What is a cyclic peptide?

cyclic peptides are an unusual class of compounds that were first discovered from microorganisms because of their biological activity. They are coated from antibiotics such as Baticracin and Polymyxnb to immunosuppressive cyclosporin. They can also be toxins. Alpha Amanitin, a poison from the fungus of death, is also a cyclic peptide. They are much more resistant to proteases - enzymes that break down proteins - than a linear peptide chain. This resistance to proteolysis means that they tend to survive the human digestive process. They can also tie proteins in a cell where traditional drugs cannot. In addition to 20 amino acids that are usually used in proteins, 300 different natural compounds can be used in cyclic peptides synthesis. For example, they may contain d amino acids. Most of the peptides are linear, n -hits with an amine group at one end and C -Kon with a carboxylic group on the other side. In cyclic peptides, the ends of N and C are connected together and create a cyclic polypeptide chain. If mThe éna than 50 amino acids is a compound known as a cyclic peptide. A larger compound is known as cyclic protein .

There are many research on the synthesis of new cyclic peptides. They can be synthesized by specialized techniques known as peptides synthesis. There are biotechnology companies that specialize in the production of their own peptides for research studies. Cyclic peptides showed a promise to treat Alzheimer and Huntington's diseases. As more information about their interaction with cellular proteins, even more drugs from this diverse class of compounds will be available.

In addition to the biological activity of cyclic peptides, they are interesting as carriers . This means that they can be created to transfer drugs to the body. Especially if the drug is a peptide, it can be synthesized as part of cyclic peptide and used orally.

Biosynthesis of natural cyclic peptides is interesting for biologists because it often includes non-urbosomal peptide synthetase . Most peptides are made using ribosomes that use Messenger RNA (MRNA) as a template and then assemble amino acids to form a peptide or protein. Some microorganisms have large enzyme complexes composed of modules that use cyclic peptides. They do not use ribosomes or mRNA. In some cases, it is possible to change modules and genetically engineer cyclical peptide, positioning new compounds with biological activity.