Cyclic Peptides as Inhibitors of Amyloid Fibrillation

Many neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or Huntington's disease, occur as a result of amyloid protein fibril formation and cell death induced by this process. Cyclic peptides (CPs) and their derivatives form a new class of powerful inhibitors that prevent amyloid fibrillation and decrease the cytotoxicity of aggregates. The strategies for designing CPs are described, with respect to their amino acid sequence and/or conformational similarity to amyloid fibrils. The implications of CPs for the study and possible treatment of amyloid-related diseases are discussed.