Pseudo-peptides in drug discovery: A newer technology
Abstract Drug discovery is devoted to the topic and draws together knowledge gained on different types of peptidomimetics and other pseudo-peptides with drug properties. It includes peptoides (N-substituted oligo-glycines) beta-peptides, gamma-peptides, pyrrole-imidazole polyamides, DNA-like peptide nucleic acids, Alpha-helical peptide nucleic acids, DNA-cleaving pseudo-peptides in DNA binders as well as peptide nucleic acids. Peptides are among the most versatile bioactive molecules, yet they do not make good drugs, because they are quickly degraded or modified in thebody. Thus, drug discovery has turned to the novel field of peptidomimetics to design non-peptide compounds mimicking the pharmacophore and thus the activity of the original peptide. These novel compounds open up new perspectives in drug design by providing an entire range of highly specific pharmaceuticals that have a high bioavailability. Peptides are among the most versatile bioactive molecules, yet the donot...