Method for predicting protein aggregation and designing aggregation inhibitors

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of predicting protein aggregation and designing aggregation inhibitors. One such method for predicting potential protein aggregation inhibiting peptide sequences, includes the steps of: a) identifying a peptide sequence forming at least part of an aggregation region in a target protein; b) testing whether said peptide sequence forms part of a β-sheet; c) if a positive result is achieved in step b), extracting the adjacent strands of that sheet; d) identifying residues in the adjacent strands to said peptide sequence whose side chains interact with said peptide sequence, those residues forming a potential protein aggregation inhibiting peptide sequence. The present invention also provides methods of designing compounds using the residues identified in the above method; compounds produced by the methods and computer programs for carrying out the above methods.