Abstract: The present application describes stapled peptide degron chimeras, which act as protein degradation inducing moieties, either by combining a stapled peptide that binds a disease-related protein with a small molecule degron, such as a cereblon- or VHL-binding small molecule as the degron, or a polypeptide sequence degron, such as a Cop1-binding Trib peptide as the degron; or by combining a stapled peptide degron with a peptide, such as a stapled peptide, or a small molecule that binds a disease-related protein. The present application also relates to methods for the targeted degradation of endogenous proteins through the use of stapled peptide degron chimeras which can be utilized in the treatment of proliferative disorders or other conditions whereby elimination of a disease-causing or disease-related protein would have a therapeutic benefit. The present application also provides methods for making compounds of the application and intermediates thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure features structurally-stabilized and/or cysteine-reactive peptide inhibitors for selective targeting of BFL-1, or dual targeting of BFL-1 and MCL-1. Also disclosed are methods of using such structurally-stabilized and cysteine-reactive peptides in the treatment of BFL-1- and/or MCL-1-expressing or -dependent cancers or diseases of cellular excess (e.g., autoimmune or inflammatory conditions). Also provided are combination therapies comprising such structurally-stabilized and/or cysteine-reactive peptides and inhibitors of the DNA damage response pathway, such as an ATM kinase inhibitor, ATR kinase inhibitor, CHK1/2 inhibitor, or PARP inhibitor; or an inhibitor of MCL-1, or a selective inhibitor of BCL-2, or an inhibitor of BCL-2/BCL-XL, for the treatment of BFL-1-expressing or -dependent cancers (e.g., AML), BFL-1 and MCL-1-expressing or -dependent cancers, or diseases of cellular excess (e.g., autoimmune or inflammatory conditions).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structurally stabilized peptides of ACE2 helix 1 useful for diagnosing, preventing, and treating coronavirus infection by targeting the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 and thereby blocking its interaction with the human ACE2 receptor, which is involved in coronavirus infection and pathogenesis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cross-linked peptides useful for interfering with and inhibiting coronavirus infection (e.g., infection by SARS-CoV-2). Also disclosed are methods of treating and/or preventing a coronavirus infection (e.g., COVID-19).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to cell-permeable stabilized peptide modules and methods of use for e.g., cellular delivery of cargoes.

Abstract: Structurally stabilized, e.g., stapled, peptides with the ability to translocate through microbial cell membranes to the interior of microbial cells and exert a biological activity there are provided, as are methods of designing, making and using such peptides.

Abstract: Methods for assessing the efficacy of internally cross-linked p53 transactivation domain-based inhibitor peptides in the treatment of pediatric cancer and methods of using such peptides to treat pediatric cancer are provided.

Abstract: This disclosure features structurally-stabilized Ebola virus antiviral peptides. Also disclosed are methods of using such structurally-stabilized peptides in the treatment or prevention of an Ebola virus infection or Ebola virus disease.

Abstract: This disclosure features structurally-stabilized and/or cysteine-reactive peptide inhibitors for selective targeting of BFL-1, or dual targeting of BFL-1 and MCL-1. Also disclosed are methods of using such structurally-stabilized and cysteine-reactive peptides in the treatment of BFL-1- and/or MCL-1-expressing or -dependent cancers or diseases of cellular excess (e.g., autoimmune or inflammatory conditions). Also provided are combination therapies comprising such structurally-stabilized and/or cysteine-reactive peptides and inhibitors of the DNA damage response pathway, such as an ATM kinase inhibitor, ATR kinase inhibitor, CHK1/2 inhibitor, or PARP inhibitor; or an inhibitor of MCL-1, or a selective inhibitor of BCL-2, or an inhibitor of BCL-2/BCL-XL, for the treatment of BFL-1-expressing or -dependent cancers (e.g., AML), BFL-1 and MCL-1-expressing or -dependent cancers, or diseases of cellular excess (e.g., autoimmune or inflammatory conditions).

Abstract: The present application describes chimeras which target and degrade essential viral proteins or host proteins involved in viral pathogenesis. In particular, the chimeras of this application combine a moiety that binds to a target protein (such as a coronaviral papain-like protease (PLpro), main protease (Mpro), or other non-structural proteins (e.g., NSP9 or NSP12); or a host protein, such as bromodomain 2, bromodomain 3, or bromodomain 4)), with a moiety that recruits a protein degrader, thereby degrading the target protein. In some instances, the chimera simultaneously induces p53, which itself has anti-viral activity, by engaging HDM2 as the protein degrader. The disclosure also relates to methods of using such chimeras in the prevention and treatment of viral infections, particularly viral infections (such as COVID-19) caused by coronaviruses (such as SARS-CoV-2).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the surprising and unexpected finding that the well-known cancer protein, Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1 (MCL-1), binds to and modulates the enzymatic activity of Very Long Chain Acyl CoA Dehydrogenase (VLCAD), thereby regulating fatty acid ?-oxidation. This finding is employed in compositions and methods of treating cancer, metabolic diseases, or other conditions characterized by excessive fatty acid ?-oxidation by blocking or reducing the energy production of cells (e.g., cancer) through inhibiting the MCL-1/VLCAD interaction and/or directly inhibiting VLCAD enzymatic activity. In addition, the disclosure features methods for identifying such agents that inhibit the interaction between MCL-1 and VLCAD or that inhibit VLCAD enzymatic activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are peptides and structurally-stabilized peptides that selectively bind to HDMX, or both HDMX and HDM2 as well as compositions comprising the same. Also provided are methods for using such peptides in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer (e.g., HDMX-expressing and/or -dependent cancers).

Abstract: This disclosure features structurally-stabilized peptides that target glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), compositions comprising same, and methods for using such peptides in the treatment of diabetes, hyperglycemia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and other conditions that can benefit from increased GLP-1 agonist activity and in increasing cAMP levels

Abstract: In some embodiments, a mass spectrometry tag may comprise a linker region, a mass balance region, and a reporter region. The mass spectrometry tag may be configured to fragment in a mass spectrometer via an energy dependent process to produce multiple reporter molecules. For example, the reporter region of the tag may be configured to produce at least two reporter molecules via fragmentation. In some embodiments, one or more regions of the tag may comprise at least one heavy isotope. In some such embodiments, the ability to fragment into multiple reporter molecules as well as the placement and/or number of heavy isotope(s) allows the mass spectrometry tag to be distinguished from other similar mass spectrometry tags. In some such embodiments, the ability to distinguish between tags having the same or substantially similar total mass to charge ratio and reporter region mass may allow the system to have a greater multiplexing capacity than conventional systems.

Abstract: This disclosure features structurally-stabilized oncolytic peptides and related compositions and methods of making same. Also disclosed are methods of using such structurally-stabilized peptides in the treatment of cancer, e.g., a hematological cancer, e.g., a leukemia, a lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, and/or in the inhibition of proliferation of a cancer cell, e.g., a hematological cancer, e.g., a leukemia and/or a lymphoma and/or a multiple myeloma cell. Also disclosed are methods of using such structurally-stabilized peptides for killing cancer cells or dual-killing cancer cell and micro-organisms, and thus providing therapeutics to treat cancer with or without simultaneously preventing or treating infection, while avoiding toxicity to normal, non-cancerous cells.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment or prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss in a subject in need thereof. The methods involve administering to the subject a bclw protein, a BH4 domain-containing fragment thereof, or a bclw mimetic. Also provided are exemplary bclw mimetics.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the surprising and unexpected finding that the well-known cancer protein, Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1 (MCL-1), binds to and modulates the enzymatic activity of Very Long Chain Acyl CoA Dehydrogenase (VLCAD), thereby regulating fatty acid ?-oxidation. This finding is employed in compositions and methods of treating cancer, metabolic diseases, or other conditions characterized by excessive fatty acid ?-oxidation by blocking or reducing the energy production of cells (e.g., cancer) through inhibiting the MCL-1/VLCAD interaction and/or directly inhibiting VLCAD enzymatic activity. In addition, the disclosure features methods for identifying such agents that inhibit the interaction between MCL-1 and VLCAD or that inhibit VLCAD enzymatic activity.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment or prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss in a subject in need thereof. The methods involve administering to the subject a bclw protein, a BH4 domain-containing fragment thereof, or a bclw mimetic. Also provided are exemplary bclw mimetics.

Abstract: This application features pyrazol-3-one compounds that activate pro-apoptotic BAX. Also featured are methods of using such compounds, e.g., for the treatment or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with deregulated apoptosis of cells (e.g., insufficient apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells or essentially the absence of apoptosis of diseased or damaged cells).

Abstract: Provided herein is a platform technology for designing stabilized peptides that covalently bind their target protein and thereby inhibit the activity of the target protein. Also provided are exemplary stabilized peptides that can be used for covalent modification of their target proteins.