Patent ID: 8754034

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for identifying and making an inhibitory peptidic compound that inhibits aggregation of an amyloid-forming target polypeptide, comprising the steps of: identifying a template peptide sequence comprising a zipper-forming sequence or a mirror of the zipper-forming sequence from the target polypeptide, wherein the zipper-forming sequence aggregates into a steric zipper; designing on a computer at least one complementary peptide sequence that forms favorable steric and energetic intermolecular interactions with the template peptide sequence, wherein the interactions occur at one or both of the upper or lower ends of the steric zipper; and identifying a candidate inhibitory peptidic compound selected from the group consisting of the complementary sequence, a mirror of the complementary sequence, a peptide mimetic of the complementary sequence and a peptide mimetic of the mirror of the complementary sequence.