Shunsuke Tagami (RIKEN): Bacterial peptides with a special 3D-interlocked structure

Modified and cyclized peptides are now regarded as promising candidates for next-generation therapeutics due to their enhanced stability and target specificity. Lasso peptides are bacterial post-translationally-modified peptides with a unique 3D-interlocked rotaxane structure, in which an N-terminal macrolactam ring is threaded by a linear C-terminal part. Because of this unique structure, lasso peptides tend to be thermostable and resistant to proteolysis. In this seminar, I will showcase our ongoing efforts to elucidate the mechanism of lasso peptide biosynthesis. I will also present our resent advancement in engineering artificial lasso peptides for medical applications.