Identification, Structure and Function of Peptides with Therapeutic Potential

The objective of this thesis was to discover and develop novel therapeutic peptides. A promising, cell-permeable peptide with potential application in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus was identified. This peptide could serve as a starting point for the design of a new type of anti-diabetic drug. Furthermore, the thesis employed a bioinformatic method, principal component analysis, to investigate how a superfamily of proteins and peptides function in the body. This approach will make it easier to determine how these molecules can be used as medicines.