About this Research Topic
The polyamide structure of peptides and proteins is intricately tied to their folding and function. A typically flexible, chiral chain composed of numerous hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors linking a variety of side chain functionalities, the polyamide is an exquisite design template which can be readily assembled and disassembled for diverse biological applications. Inspired by natural uses of polyamide structures, a diverse spectrum of contemporary research efforts employs peptides and proteins in various fields, including medicine, catalysis, nano-technology, and materials and environmental sciences. Inherent in this research lies interests to understand the geometrical requirements for polyamide activity, to create novel and mimetic designs and to modulate their stability for diverse applications.
Amino acid building blocks can be considered as three-atom chain, possessing Brønsted acid and Lewis base functionality in the form of an amide NH and carbonyl groups.Various efforts have been pursued to reinforce and replace the physical and conformational properties of this modular unit. Strategies for backbone assembly and modification have ushered in new generations of polyamide structures for mimicry and supramolecular assembly to navigate novel explorations in drug discovery, delivery, tissue engineering and energy storage. Novel synthetic methods have similarly produced tools for controlling peptide folding, probes for investigating chemical biology, as well as novel green catalysts. Teamed with applications of high-resolution structural information, computational analysis, directed evolution, and proteomic and genomic strategies, the chemistry of polyamide backbone modification has significant potential to empower peptide and protein research oriented towards impact in various fields for enhancing quality of life.
This Frontiers Research Topic brings together leading scientists researching the chemistry of polyamide modification to advance peptide science and protein engineering. Surveying novel synthetic methods for the modification of polyamide structures, hierarchical motifs come into focus as a plethora of recent developments are highlighted. This Topics aims to illustrate both synthetic methods and applications of peptide and protein science.
Amino acid building blocks can be considered as three-atom chain, possessing Brønsted acid and Lewis base functionality in the form of an amide NH and carbonyl groups.Various efforts have been pursued to reinforce and replace the physical and conformational properties of this modular unit. Strategies for backbone assembly and modification have ushered in new generations of polyamide structures for mimicry and supramolecular assembly to navigate novel explorations in drug discovery, delivery, tissue engineering and energy storage. Novel synthetic methods have similarly produced tools for controlling peptide folding, probes for investigating chemical biology, as well as novel green catalysts. Teamed with applications of high-resolution structural information, computational analysis, directed evolution, and proteomic and genomic strategies, the chemistry of polyamide backbone modification has significant potential to empower peptide and protein research oriented towards impact in various fields for enhancing quality of life.
This Frontiers Research Topic brings together leading scientists researching the chemistry of polyamide modification to advance peptide science and protein engineering. Surveying novel synthetic methods for the modification of polyamide structures, hierarchical motifs come into focus as a plethora of recent developments are highlighted. This Topics aims to illustrate both synthetic methods and applications of peptide and protein science.
Keywords: Polyamide, backbone modification, amino acid, polyamide structure, side chain functionality
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