1.
ACS Med Chem Lett
; 6(8): 872-6, 2015 Aug 13.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26288687
ABSTRACT
Systematic halogenation of two native opioid peptides has shown that halogen atoms can modulate peptide-receptor interactions in different manners. First, halogens may produce a steric hindrance that reduces the binding of the peptide to the receptor. Second, chlorine, bromine, or iodine may improve peptide binding if their positive σ-hole forms a halogen bond interaction with negatively charged atoms of the protein. Lastly, the negative electrostatic potential of fluorine can interact with positively charged atoms of the protein to improve peptide binding.