Chemists Discover New Building Blocks

U.S. chemists have made a protein-acting molecule from beta-amino acids, showing peptides assembled from such acids can fold much as do natural protein.

The x-ray structure featured (in the study) shows a molecule that shares many of the structural characteristics of natural proteins, said Yale University Professor Alanna Schepartz, the study’s lead author. Related studies show that the physical properties of the molecule are also remarkably similar to natural proteins. In other words, the beta-peptide assembly looks and acts a lot like a real protein.

The researchers say the ability to mimic natural proteins makes beta-peptides powerful new tools for basic research and drug discovery.

Since beta-peptides are not processed in the cell like natural peptides or proteins, it may be possible in the future to design beta-peptides that perform better or in more locations than current protein drugs, said Schepartz. They also may have unique properties as biomaterials.

Co-authors included post-doctoral fellows Douglas Daniels and E. James Petersson, and graduate student Jade X. Qiu.

The research is featured in the early online edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.