Speaker: Prof. David J Craik, The University of Oueensland

Time: 15:15 p.m., June 13, 2023, GMT+8

Venue: College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, A204 Room

Abstract:

Naturally occurring peptides offer great potential as leads for drugdesign.Our work focuses on a class of cyclic peptides known ascyclotides, which are topologically unique in that they have a headto-tail cyclised peptide backbone and a cystine knottedarrangement of disulfide bonds. This makes cyclotides exceptionally stable to heat or enzymatic treatments and,indeed, they areamongst nature's most stable proteins. Their stability and compact structure favours them as attractive protein frameworks onto whichbioactive peptide epitopes can be grafted to stabilise them. Morethan two dozen examples have now been reported wherebiologically active epitopes have been grafted onto cyclic peptide frameworks to produce lead molecules with potential in the treatment of cancercardiovascular disease,infectious disease autoimmune disease (multiple sclerosis) and pain. Until now solid.phase peptide chemistry has been the primary method used tomake cyclotides for laboratory evaluations. Scale-up for clinicalevaluation of cyclotides and other therapeutic peptides will require more efficjent and potentially more sustainable production routes. This presentation will describe the use of plants as bio-factories toproduce the rapeutic designer cvclotides.

Source: College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering