The effect of peptide size on target affinity in mRNA display-derived macrocyclic peptides

Abstract

The large size of macrocyclic peptides discovered by mRNA display can hinder therapeutic development. Using size-restricted RaPID libraries and analysis of 40 published datasets, we show that potent binders are more reliably identified from libraries with at least nine randomised residues, providing guidance for mRNA display screen design.

Graphical abstract: The effect of peptide size on target affinity in mRNA display-derived macrocyclic peptides

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
30 Oct 2025
Accepted
20 Jan 2026
First published
30 Jan 2026

Chem. Commun., 2026, Advance Article

The effect of peptide size on target affinity in mRNA display-derived macrocyclic peptides

X. Jing, J. Suh, J. Maxwell, K. Patel, A. Norman, X. J. Reid, C. Deshpande, J. K. K. Low, R. J. Payne, T. Passioura and J. P. Mackay, Chem. Commun., 2026, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5CC06167A

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