From exploring cancer and virus targets to discovering active peptides through mRNA display

During carcinogenesis, neoplastic cells accumulate mutations in genes important for cellular homeostasis, producing defective proteins. Viral infections occur when viral capsid proteins bind to the host cell receptor, allowing the virus to enter the cells. In both cases, proteins play important roles in cancer development and viral infection, so these targets can be exploited to develop alternative treatments. mRNA display technology is a very powerful tool for the development of peptides capable of acting on specific targets in neoplastic cells or on viral capsid proteins. mRNA display technology allows the selection and evolution of peptides with desired functional properties from libraries of many nucleic acid variants. Among other advantages of this technology, the use of flexizymes allows the production of peptides with unnatural amino acid residues, which can enhance the activity of these molecules. From target immobilization, peptides with greater specificity for the targets of interest are generated during the selection rounds. Herein, we will explore the use of mRNA display technology for the development of active peptides after successive rounds of selection, using proteins present in neoplastic cells and viral particles as targets.