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Published on: January 26, 2016
Targeting amyloidogenic proteins through cyclic peptides - A medicinal chemistry perspective
Muhammad Kazim Zargaham1, Ahsan Ibrahim2, Madiha Ahmed1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
|March 28, 2025
Summary
Cyclic peptides (CPs) show promise in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. These molecules can be designed to target amyloid aggregation or be used in AD vaccines, offering new therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Alzheimer's Disease (AD) involves amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter deficits.
- Cyclic Peptides (CPs) are bioactive molecules with the potential to modulate protein structure and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of cyclic peptides (CPs) in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) research.
- To explore CPs as scaffolds for novel small molecules targeting amyloid aggregation and AD vaccination.
- To discuss other AD-related targets for CP design.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cyclic peptide applications in Alzheimer's Disease.
- Analysis of CP mechanisms in interfering with amyloidogenic proteins and signal transduction.
- Identification of potential therapeutic targets for CP-based interventions.
Main Results:
- CPs can interfere with AD pathology by mimicking or altering amyloidogenic protein structures.
- CPs can compete with amyloid proteins for receptors involved in AD.
- CPs serve as scaffolds for developing small molecules against amyloid aggregation and for AD vaccines.
Conclusions:
- Cyclic peptides offer a versatile platform for developing novel therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer's Disease.
- Targeting amyloid aggregation and developing AD vaccines are key applications for CPs.
- Further research into CP design for various AD pathophysiological pathways is warranted.
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