The Synthesis of Modified Peptide Isosteres As Potential Anti-Parasite Drugs

Abstract

Protease enzymes are responsible for the catalytic hydrolysis of peptides and therefore play vital roles in the biochemistry of organisms. Serine proteases, which achieve proteolytic cleavage by a mechanism involving an activated serine residue, are numerous in mammalian systems while only a limited number of the analogous cysteine proteases are to be found. Cysteine protease enzymes are however, widespread in parasitic species and often essential to the functioning of the organism. Thus the use of inhibitors for the treatment of parasitic infestation may be possible if the subtle differences between these two enzyme families can be exploited