PEPTIDE MODULATORS OF PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS IN INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING

Signal transduction cascades involve multiple enzymes and are orchestr ated by selective protein-protein interactions that are essential for the progression of intracellular signaling events. Modulators of these protein-protein interactions have been used to dissect the role of in dividual components of each signaling cascade. We describe several met hods that have been developed for the identification of peptides that inhibit the interaction between signaling proteins and hence selective ly modulate their functions. Such peptide modulators provide important tools for basic research and have great potential as leads for the de velopment of new classes of therapeutic drugs.