Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Peptides are characterized by their wide range of biological activity: they regulate functions of the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. The mechanism of such action of peptides involves their ability to regulate gene expression and protein synthesis in plants, microorganisms, insects, birds, rodents, primates, and humans. Short peptides, consisting of 2–7 amino acid residues, can penetrate into the nuclei and nucleoli of cells and interact with the nucleosome, the histone proteins, and both single- and double-stranded DNA. DNA–peptide interactions, including sequence recognition in gene promoters, are important for template-directed synthetic reactions, replication, transcription, and reparation. Peptides can regulate the status of DNA methylation, which is an epigenetic mechanism for the activation or repression of genes in both the normal condition, as well as in cases of pathology and senescence. In this context, one can assume that short peptides were evolutionarily among the first signaling molecules that regulated the reactions of template-directed syntheses. This situation enhances the prospects of developing effective and safe immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiviral, and other drugs based on short peptides.

Transport of Biologically Active Ultrashort Peptides Using POT and LAT Carriers

“…The spectrum of USPs’ biological activity is wide: they regulate the functions of the endocrine, nervous and immune systems. The mechanism of action of peptides consists in their ability to regulate gene expression and protein synthesis in plants, microorganisms, insects, birds, rodents, primates and humans [ 10 , 14 ]. USP can penetrate cell nucleus and nucleolus and interact with the nucleosome, histone proteins and single- and double-stranded DNA.…”

“…DNA–peptide interactions are vital for template synthesis reactions, including sequence recognition in gene promoters, replication, transcription and repair. USPs are able to regulate the DNA methylation status, which is an epigenetic mechanism of gene activation or repression in normal, pathological and ageing conditions [ 14 ]. In this regard, it can be assumed that evolutionarily USPs, similar to the POT family peptide carriers, were one of the first signaling molecules capable of cellular homeostasis regulation.…”

“…Violation of peptide bioregulation reduces the body’s resistance to external and internal destabilizing factors, which is one of the reasons for accelerated ageing and development of age-associated pathology [ 14 ]. In this regard, disruption of peptide transport may be an important link in the implementation of ageing mechanisms and pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases.…”

“…Immunoprotector [174] Thymogen (EW) −24.72 Immunoprotector, medicinal product [14,169] Geroprotector [12] Regulator of the epiphysis functions [172] Neuroprotector [173] Crystagen Geroprotector [12] Regulator of the epiphysis functions [172] Neuroprotector [173] Crystagen (EDP) −20.22…”

“…They regulate the functions of endocrine, nervous and immune systems and are involved in cell differentiation, apoptosis [ 11 , 12 ] and proliferation [ 11 , 13 ]. Thus, peptides have a wide range of targeted biological activities [ 14 ]. This allows us to consider them as promising molecules for the development of drugs [ 15 ].…”