Cyclosporin Peptide Derivatives Reveal How Conformation Controls Membrane Permeability
Study of cyclosporin O derivatives revealed how intramolecular hydrogen bonds and conformational "chameleonicity" control membrane permeability and cyclophilin A binding, informing oral macrocyclic peptide drug design.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cyclosporin O derivatives demonstrated that intramolecular hydrogen bonds and conformational chameleonicity determine membrane permeability and cyclophilin A binding. Conformation-permeability-binding relationships were mapped with PK profiling.
Key Numbers
CsO F=12% oral bioavailability; minimal CypA binding; higher plasma concentration than CsA; less chameleonic in polar media
How They Did This
Structure-property study. Cyclosporin O and derivatives CP1-3. Conformational analysis. Membrane permeability assessment. Cyclophilin A binding. Pharmacokinetic profiling. Intramolecular hydrogen bond characterization.
Why This Research Matters
Oral delivery of macrocyclic peptides is a major pharmaceutical goal. Understanding the conformational rules that govern membrane permeability enables rational design of orally bioavailable peptide drugs for currently undruggable targets.
The Bigger Picture
Chameleonicity — the ability of a peptide to change its properties with its environment — is emerging as the key design principle for orally available macrocyclic drugs. This study provides concrete examples and design rules.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Limited to cyclosporin O scaffold. Rules may not generalize to all macrocyclic peptides. PK profiling scope not detailed. Cell-based permeability may not match in vivo absorption.
Questions This Raises
- ?Can chameleonicity be computationally predicted during macrocycle design?
- ?Do these conformation-permeability rules apply to non-cyclosporin macrocycles?
- ?Could artificial chameleonicity be engineered into otherwise impermeable peptides?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Chameleonicity is key Peptides that change shape between water and membrane environments (chameleonicity) achieve the best oral permeability — a design principle for macrocyclic drugs
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate evidence: systematic structure-property study with multiple derivatives, permeability data, and PK profiling.
- Study Age:
- Published 2021. Macrocyclic peptide oral delivery is an active pharmaceutical design area.
- Original Title:
- Interplay among Conformation, Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds, and Chameleonicity in the Membrane Permeability and Cyclophilin A Binding of Macrocyclic Peptide Cyclosporin O Derivatives.
- Published In:
- Journal of medicinal chemistry, 64(12), 8272-8286 (2021)
- Authors:
- Lee, Dongjae, Lee, Sungjin, Choi, Jieun, Song, Yoo-Kyung, Kim, Min Ju, Shin, Dae-Seop, Bae, Myung Ae, Kim, Yong-Chul, Park, Chin-Ju, Lee, Kyeong-Ryoon, Choi, Jun-Ho, Seo, Jiwon
- Database ID:
- RPEP-05533
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chameleonicity in peptides?
Just like a chameleon changes color, some peptides change their shape depending on environment. In water, they expose their polar groups. In a fatty cell membrane, they hide these groups internally. This shape-shifting ability allows them to cross membranes and be absorbed orally.
Why is this important for making peptide pills?
Most peptide drugs must be injected because they can't cross the gut membrane. Understanding the structural features that enable membrane crossing (like chameleonicity) allows chemists to design peptides that can be taken as pills — dramatically improving patient convenience.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-05533APA
Lee, Dongjae; Lee, Sungjin; Choi, Jieun; Song, Yoo-Kyung; Kim, Min Ju; Shin, Dae-Seop; Bae, Myung Ae; Kim, Yong-Chul; Park, Chin-Ju; Lee, Kyeong-Ryoon; Choi, Jun-Ho; Seo, Jiwon. (2021). Interplay among Conformation, Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds, and Chameleonicity in the Membrane Permeability and Cyclophilin A Binding of Macrocyclic Peptide Cyclosporin O Derivatives.. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 64(12), 8272-8286. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00211
MLA
Lee, Dongjae, et al. "Interplay among Conformation, Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds, and Chameleonicity in the Membrane Permeability and Cyclophilin A Binding of Macrocyclic Peptide Cyclosporin O Derivatives.." Journal of medicinal chemistry, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00211
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Interplay among Conformation, Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds,..." RPEP-05533. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/lee-2021-interplay-among-conformation-intramolecular
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.