| Abstract: | The molecular recognition of peptides or peptide fragments by synthetic receptor molecules is of great importance for the design of biosensors, the targeting of cellular processes and hence the development of new therapeutics. Unfortunately, our general understanding of non‐covalent interactions is no yet elaborated enough to create a tailor made receptor starting from zero. One possible approach is therefore to mimic the principles and binding motifs found in nature and further evolve them in to effective receptor molecules using either rational structure variations or a more random combinatorial synthesis. The usefullness and prospective potential of these approaches is illustrated with two case studies showing how one tries to find new strategies to fight bacterial infections and cancer with the help of artificial peptide receptors. |
