Title:Peptide Based Therapy for Neurological Disorders
Volume: 22
Issue: 9
Author(s): Asmita Yadav, Damini Pandey, Ghulam Md. Ashraf and Rachana*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, JIIT Noida, Sector 62, Noida-201309, UP,India
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, dentatorubral-paiidoluysial atrophy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, peptides, therapy.
Abstract: Peptides are small molecules composed of amino acids linked together by peptide
bonds. The targeted action of these peptides along with their magnificent ability to reach locations
in the body that are complicated to access, is being considered of tremendous potential in disease
modifying therapies. Synthetic as well as natural peptides like Carnosine are currently under research
for the treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders (NDDs). Peptide based vaccines are currently
under immense research for diseases like dementia. Toxicity of peptide-based drugs towards
eukaryotic cells due to their increased haemolytic activity is of major concern and this is being
tackled by introducing modifications into the peptide structure. Some crucial peptide inhibitors
currently in use for neurodegenerative disorders include Aβ (16-20) KLVFF for Alzheimer’s disease,
NAPVSIPQ (NAP) for Parkinson’s disease, towards eukaryotic cells Vasoactive Intestinal
Peptides (VIP) for Huntington’s disease, Polyglutamine Binding Peptide-1(QBP1) for Dentatorubral-
pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). Certain peptides are involved in inhibition of Mitochondrial
Permeability Transition (MPT) that plays a prominent part in the materialization of neurodegenerative
diseases, one such example of peptides being Ba-V which is obtained from Bothrops atrox
snake venom. New therapeutic peptides are being identified using bioinformatics tools like High
Throughput Screening (HTS). These tools are being used to explore the selectivity, stability, extent
of immune response and toxic side effects of peptides. Apart from neurodegenerative diseases, the
potential of bioactive peptides is also being tested against cancer, diabetes and microbes. This review
focuses on the recent advances in peptide therapeutics and novel peptides discovered for the
treatment of NDs.
