New Endogenous Opioid Peptides and Peptidomimetics with Potential Biological Importance
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Biopharmaceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 2718
Special Issue Editors
Interests: amino acids; peptide chemistry; organic synthesis; organic phosphorus compounds; biological active substances; endogenous peptides; pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: analytical chemistry; development of methods for detection and determination of biologically active compounds; pharmaceutical chemistry; metallopeptide chemistry; spectral and electro analyses
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to cover the recent progress in the synthesis, isolation, characterization, and biological activity of new endogenous peptide derivatives and peptidomimetics. Endogenous opioid peptides function simultaneously as hormones and neuromodulators. They are peptide molecules that are produced in the central nervous system as well as in various glands of the body.
The numerous endogenous opioid peptides (enkephalins, endorphins, dynorphins, nociceptin, endomorphins, hemoglobin-derived opioid peptides, etc.) exert their effects through the activation of receptors belonging to four main types: μ, δ, к and ε. Opioidergic neurons and opioid receptors are largely distributed centrally and peripherally. Opioids have numerous pharmacological effects, and they are thought to be involved in the physiological control of various functions.
The synthesis, isolation, and research of this type of compound are current scientific topics directly related to the study and future development of new therapies used in medicine. The development of peptide drugs with low toxicity and the absence of side effects is a significant problem, the solution of which is a challenge for scientists worldwide.
A number of in vivo studies have indicated that some biologically active peptide compounds become more bacteriostatic and carcinostatic upon chelation. In metal–peptide interactions, cations form stable complexes through bonds with coordinating groups as side chains of amino acids. These compounds, among other things, exert a wide variety of antimicrobial activities through structural changes of peptides upon metal binding and redox chemistry. From a structural point of view, opiate peptides are a fruitful area for investigation since they possess a number of H-atom donors and acceptors, and thus render a wide variety of intermolecular bonding, as well as different modes for coordination to metal ions. It is envisaged that this Special Issue will publish original high-quality papers, short commentaries, and comprehensive reviews presenting results and insights related to new endogenous opioid peptides and peptidomimetics with potential biological importance, from synthesis and structure characterization to their application. The Issue may cover reports from disciplines ranging from chemistry to biology in the field of opioid peptides and peptidomimetics containing a variety of amino acids in their molecules. Studies related to both the chelating ability of peptide molecules and their screening for aggregation in the presence of metal ions of biologically active endogenous peptide derivatives leading to the production of seeding factors in the formation of, for example, amyloid plaques, would also be of interest. Manuscripts presenting studies of the structural behavior of endogenous peptide molecules and their complex forms with metal ions in solution are also welcomed.
Prof. Dr. Petar Todorov
Dr. Stela Georgieva
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- endogenous peptides
- opioid peptides
- metallopeptides
- peptidomimetics
- neuropeptides
- peptide–metal complexes
- opioid receptors
- chemical biology of endogenous peptides
