TRF2-Modulating Peptides for Skin Aging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods to address skin aging, such as increasing telomerase activity, risk immortalizing cells and potentially leading to cancer, while existing peptide compounds that modulate telomere-associated proteins do not address cosmetic applications for skin aging effectively.
Innovation Solution
Development of peptide compounds of the formula R1-(AA)n-X1-X2-X3-Lys-Lys-Gln-Lys-Trp-X4-(AA)p-R2 that modulate the TRF2 protein, stabilizing telomeres and preventing DNA double-strand breaks, incorporated into a cosmetic composition to prevent and treat skin aging without affecting telomerase activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If telomerase activity is increased to limit telomeric shortening and delay skin aging, then cellular senescence is delayed, but cells risk immortalization and may resemble cancer cells
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating telomerase to extend telomeres (conventional approach), the invention uses peptide compounds that stabilize existing telomeres and modulate TRF2 protein levels, achieving telomere protection through the opposite mechanism that does not induce cell immortalization
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces peptide compounds as intermediary substances that mediate between telomere structure and TRF2 protein, providing stabilization without directly activating telomerase, thus avoiding the harmful effect of cell immortalization while still achieving telomere protection
2Reliability
If peptide compounds are designed to modulate TRF2 protein levels to stabilize telomeres, then DNA double-strand breaks are prevented, but the complexity of peptide structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies specific parameters of the peptide structure (amino acid sequence, molecular weight, TRF2 binding affinity) to optimize the balance between DNA stabilization capability and structural complexity, ensuring effectiveness while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The peptide compounds are designed with specific local structural features (amino acid residues at particular positions) that confer TRF2 binding capability and telomere stabilization function, rather than requiring complex overall structure, thus achieving high reliability with controlled complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to peptide components of general formula (I) R1- (AA)n- X1- X2- X3 -Lys - Lys - Gin - Lys - Trp - X4 - (AA)P - R2. Said peptide components can be used as modulators of the protein TRF2 and have a preventive action on DNA double-strand breaks. The invention also relates to a cosmetic composition comprising at least one peptide of general formula (I) in a physiologically acceptable medium, and to the cosmetic use thereof for preventing and/or treating the cutaneous signs of ageing and photo-ageing. The invention further relates to a method for cosmetic treatment by means of peptides according to the invention.