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Scaffold Based Supramolecular Architectures as Protein Epitope Mimetics for Biomedical Applications (3D BIOMIMETICS)
Date du début: 1 mars 2014, Date de fin: 31 août 2016 PROJET  TERMINÉ 

Synthetic molecules that mimic the structure of the part of a folded protein involved in recognition events (protein epitope mimetics, PEMs) can access biological targets previously deemed as “undruggable” and are considered as a potential source of future therapeutics. So far, PEMs could effectively mimic only individual secondary structure elements of peptides and proteins. The major goal of this project is the development of a novel versatile platform for the design of multifaceted 3D architectures as PEMs of higher order structure elements and discontinuous epitopes of bioactive protein surfaces. The platform is based on cyclic pseudopeptide scaffolds comprising triazole rings linked by conventional amide bonds that are designed to allow for precise topological positioning of biomolecules. The synthetic strategy relies on sequential assembly on solid support of tailor-made building blocks through cycles of alternated amide coupling and Copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions. The building blocks will be prepared in solution and using solid phase synthesis (SPS) to produce macromolecular units bearing bioactive peptide segments. Conclusively, these PEM systems can provide further insight into protein folding mechanism and recognition processes of bioactive protein surfaces. On the other side, improving pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of natural peptides and proteins, a number of biomedical applications can be targeted. Specific focus will be devoted to the development of PEM anti-infective agents and the mimicry of structural and functional properties of trimeric HR1 complex of the HIV-1 protein gp41. Moreover, the developed platform can allow for the design of chimeric PEM systems that present saccharide and peptide units in a convergent manner as in the surface of native glycoproteins. This “discontinuous epitope” approach will be applied to improve pharmacological properties of the antimicrobial PEM systems.

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