Abstract: The present invention generally relates to modified miniature proteins, including modified avian pancreatic polypeptides (aPP) and modified pancreatic peptide YYs (PYY). One aspect of the invention is generally directed to various aPPs that have been modified such that they do not substantially form multimers in solution, for example through the addition of a proline switch. Another aspect of the invention is generally directed to modified PYYs, such as YY3. Yet another aspect of the invention is generally directed to composites of modified miniature proteins formed from portions of different miniature proteins such as aPP and/or PYY, optionally with a proline switch. Still other aspects of the invention are generally directed to methods of making such proteins, methods of using such proteins, kits involving such proteins, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein scaffold, such as an avian pancreatic polypeptide, that can be modified by substitution of two or more amino acid residues that are exposed on the alpha helix domain of the polypeptide when the polypeptide is in a tertiary form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein scaffold, such as an avian pancreatic polypeptide, that can be modified by substitution of two or more amino acid residues that are exposed on the alpha helix domain of the polypeptide when the polypeptide is in a tertiary form.

Abstract: ?-peptide regions of polypeptides can serve as structural mimics of ?-helices in wild type proteins. Because ?-helices of one protein often bind to a target protein in a biological pathway, a polypeptide that contains a helical ?-peptide region can be used to disrupt this type of protein-protein binding. As a result, polypeptides that contain a helical ?-peptide region can be used to treat conditions involving this type of protein-protein binding, such as viral infections and cell proliferation.