Peptide conjugates as tools for the study of biological signal transduction

Today, many biological phenomena are being investigated and understood in m olecular detail, and organic chemistry is increasingly being directed towar ds biological phenomena. This review is intended to highlight this interpla y of organic chemistry and biology, using biological signal transduction as an example. Lipo-, glyco-, phospho- and nucleoproteins play key roles in t he processes whereby chemical signals are passed across cell membranes and further to the cell nucleus. For the study of the biological phenomena asso ciated with these protein conjugates, structurally well-defined peptides co ntaining the characteristic linkage region of the peptide backbone with the lipid, the carbohydrate or the phosphoric acid ester can provide valuable tools. The multi-functionality and pronounced acid- and base-lability of su ch compounds renders their synthesis a formidable challenge to conventional organic synthesis. However, the recent development of enzymatic protecting groups, provides one of the central techniques which, when coupled with cl assic chemical synthesis, can provide access to these complex and sensitive biologically relevant peptide conjugates under particularly mild condition s and with high selectivity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.