The biological stability of beta-peptides: No interactions between alpha- and beta-peptidic structures

Abstract

The use of peptides in pharmaceutical applications is always hindered by the rapid degradation of the peptides by enzymes. Recent work on beta-peptides, peptides constructed entirely from beta-amino acids, has shown that even the short-chain oligomers (6 or 7 residues) exhibit remarkably stable secondary structures. However, before certain applications of beta-peptides can be considered, an information about their possible interactions or reactions with enzymes must be acquired. Ames tests (all negative) have now been performed on a selection of beta-amino acids, which would be the result of the enzymatic degradation of a beta-peptide. Furthermore, digestion experiments using a variety of peptidases and beta-peptides have now shown that beta-peptides, in sharp contrast to their alpha-peptide counterparts, undergo no degradation.