Peptide inhibitors of protein-protein interactions: From rational design to the clinic: From rational design to the clinic

The dynamic formation of selective protein-protein interactions is an essential part of the cellular signal transduction cascades. Although these interactions have a great potential for drug development, disruption of proteinprotein interactions with small molecules has been proven difficult. We have used a rational approach to map sequences that participate in protein-protein interactions and have demonstrated that peptides corresponding to these sequences act as highly specific inhibitors or activators of signalling events and can serve as selective drugs, in basic research and in animal models of human diseases.