Hydrogen-bonded synthetic mimics of protein secondary structure as disruptors of protein-protein interactions

Small molecules which can mimic the key structural facets of protein secondary structure, in particular the a-helix, b-strand, and b-sheet, have been shown to be potent disruptors of protein-protein interactions. Researchers have recently taken the organizational imitation of protein secondary structure to a new level by using intramolecular hydrogen bonds as stabilizing forces in these small molecule mimetics. The inclusion of these interactions invokes a conformational bias of the system, allowing for greater control of the appearance, and thus often function, of these molecules by design.