What's the smallest thing that can mimic proteins?
 - We don't know.

But we have made some rigid multi-cyclic peptides with real 3D-diversifiable arrangements of functional groups.
 - We think they are pretty cool and we name them nanoteins.

what are nanoteins

Nanoteins are multicyclic peptides that have modular amino acid residues arranged in a special manner, so that they can access the real 3-D diversifiable chemical space.

To the right is the structure of the first-generation Nanotein. It is a bicyclic peptide bearing modular amino acids on all three linkages. The domes illustrate the accessible 3-D space by the side chain groups.

how to make nanoteins

Just like a protein, we fold linear peptide chains into intricate shapes and fix them using chemical linkages.

AND, if we want, we can unfold the nanoteins, and retrieve the linear sequence again!

What can nanoteins do

Proteins can specifically recognize things.

We think nanoteins can do the same thing.

Check out our recent publications for some examples.