Synthetic Receptors Based on Abiotic Cyclo(pseudo)peptides

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Chemical Biology

Background:

• Synthetic receptors, including cyclic peptides and pseudopeptides, have been researched since the early days of supramolecular chemistry.
• Initial research focused on synthetic ionophores using macrocycles with repeating subunits to link structure, conformation, and binding.
• The incorporation of nonnatural amino acids expanded the structural diversity of these receptor systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the historical development of cyclic peptides and related macrocycles as synthetic receptors.
• To classify these receptor systems based on their characteristic structural elements.
• To correlate structural features with binding properties, highlighting the impact of natural and nonnatural amino acids.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of early and recent research on cyclic peptides and macrocycles as synthetic receptors.
• Classification of systems based on structural motifs within the macrocyclic ring.
• Analysis of structure-property relationships, focusing on the influence of amino acid composition.

Main Results:

• Cyclic peptides and related macrocycles have evolved into a significant and structurally diverse family of synthetic receptors.
• The review categorizes these receptors by key structural features along the ring.
• Structure-binding property correlations are established, demonstrating the role of specific amino acids.

Conclusions:

• Cyclic peptides and macrocycles represent a powerful platform for designing synthetic receptors with tunable binding properties.
• Understanding the interplay between structure and function is crucial for developing advanced receptor systems.
• The continued exploration of natural and nonnatural amino acids promises further innovation in this field.