Design basis elucidated for orally active agents for celiac disease.

2004 MAY 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A design basis has been elucidated for orally active agents for celiac disease.

"Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue, is a gluten-induced autoimmune-like disorder of the small intestine, which is strongly associated with HLA-DQ2. The structure of DQ2 complexed with an immunogenic epitope from gluten, QLQPFPQPELPY, has been determined to 2.2-Angstrom resolution by x-ray crystallography," wrote scientists in Norway.

"The glutamate at P6, which is formed by tissue transglutaminase-catalyzed deamidation, is an important anchor residue as it participates in an extensive hydrogen-bonding network involving …