Peptides Derived from the Extracellular Loops of Receptors: Structure, Mechanism of Action, Use in Physiology and Medicine

Abstract

One of the most important tasks in the peptide strategy, a new direction in contemporary biochemistry and physiology, consists of the creation of selective, efficient regulators of hormonal signal systems based on peptides corresponding to functionally significantly regions of signal proteins. Peptides derived from the extracellular loops of receptors of the serpantine type have evoked extensive interest in recent years. These have been used to study the molecular bases of the interactions of receptors with ligands, fundamentally new approaches for the creation and testing of highly selective agonists and antagonists, and analysis of the etiology and pathogenesis of human and animal diseases associated with the development of autoimmune responses to extracellular receptor loops. Peptides corresponding to the extracellular loops of receptors and antibodies specific to them have been shown to regulate the activity of hormone signal systems in in vitro and in vivo conditions and can be regarded as functional probes for studies of physiological functions in health and pathology. This review summarizes and analyzes data obtained in recent years on the structures, functions, mechanisms of action, and applications of peptides derived from the extracellular loops of serpantine-type receptors. The potential of using these agents in basic biology and applied medicine is discussed.