1. Inhibition of transcription factor assembly (cancer-related)
2. Inhibition of signal transduction
Our understanding of protein structure has enabled the de novo design of stable folds, inspiring the development of sequence specific non-natural polymers with regular repeating structures (known as foldamers). These foldamers have provided an opportunity to test our knowledge of protein folding and structural stabilization. In addition to forming well-defined structures, these foldamers are amenable to modular synthesis for potential development of desirable bioactivity and bioavailability, therefore they may serve as excellent platforms for developing biomimetics with practical applications in biomedical sciences. Toward developing structured non-natural polymers (foldamers) as pharmaceuticals and research tools, we have been focusing on using β-peptides to affect protein-protein interactions.