Recommended Reading
Key Research & Reviews

How to Use This List

• Begin with Foundational Biology reviews to understand what peptides are and how they function at a molecular level.

• Read mechanism studies to learn about peptide signaling pathways, receptor interactions, and gene regulation, the “how” behind peptide activity.

• Explore Therapeutic Research for insight into real-world development, clinical applications, and challenges.

• Check Critical & Limitations to stay grounded: know what the science can and cannot assert yet.

• Use the list as a reference library, bookmarking or saving PDFs for deeper study and critical research analysis.

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General & Foundational Peptide Biology

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“A Global Review on Short Peptides: Frontiers and Perspectives”
This review provides a comprehensive survey of the current state-of-the-art in short-peptide therapeutics, covering how small peptides act biologically, their advantages (e.g., ability to cross membranes, reach intracellular targets), and their potential for future biomedical developments. PubMed
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33467522/

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“Therapeutic Peptides: Recent Advances in Discovery, Synthesis, and Clinical Translation”
A recent (2025) overview of the evolution of peptide-based therapeutics: how peptides are discovered or engineered, what structural/chemical modifications are used to improve stability or delivery, and the current challenges (like bioavailability, stability, delivery) facing peptide drug development. MDPI
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/11/5131

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“Progress in peptide and protein therapeutics: Challenges and strategies”
This review (in press, 2025) outlines the overall landscape of peptide/protein therapeutics: their benefits (potent bioactivity, specificity) and limitations (rapid degradation, poor membrane permeability), along with strategies researchers are using to overcome these issues. ScienceDirect
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2025.10.026

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Mechanisms: How Peptides Work (Signaling, Receptors, Gene Expression)

 

“Structural insights into GPCR signaling activated by peptide ligands: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic application”
This recent 2025 review delves into how certain peptides bind to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the structural changes that enable signal transduction, and why understanding these molecular interactions is critical for designing effective peptide therapeutics. PMC+1
Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01497-y

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“Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review”
This systematic review examines how short peptides (2–7 amino acids) can penetrate into cell nuclei, interact with DNA or chromatin components (like nucleosomes), and influence gene transcription, DNA methylation, and epigenetic regulation across various organisms. It highlights the potential of peptides to modulate gene expression directly. PubMed+1
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34834147/

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“Molecular targets and mechanisms of bioactive peptides against metabolic syndromes”
A 2017 review focusing on bioactive peptides derived from food or natural sources. It describes mechanisms by which these peptides may impact metabolic health, including modulation of blood pressure, glucose regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and even senescence pathways, illustrating the broad functional capacity of peptides beyond classical hormones. RSC Publishing
Link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/fo/c7fo01323j

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Therapeutic & Clinical Research: What Peptide Science Has Achieved

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“Bioactive peptides: from preclinical to clinical studies”
This review summarizes decades of peptide research, focusing on protein hydrolysates and purified peptide fractions. It reviews evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggesting potential impacts on metabolic regulation, cardiovascular function, immune modulation, and more. PubMed
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41076731/

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“Peptide Drugs: Current Status and its Applications in the Treatment of Various Diseases”
A broad review outlining how peptides have been developed into therapeutics across numerous disease areas — including metabolic disease, chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, infectious diseases, and more. Very useful for understanding the real-world application of peptide science. PubMed
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38638039/

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“Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions”
A 2022 article summarizes the advancements in peptide drug discovery, chemical modifications, delivery strategies, and the expanding range of therapeutic areas peptides are targeting, from metabolic diseases to oncology, infectious disease, and beyond. PubMed
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35165272/

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Limitations, Challenges & Critical Perspectives

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“Review and perspective on bioactive peptides: A roadmap for research, development, and future opportunities”
This 2022 review discusses not only the promising biological activities of bioactive peptides (antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, etc.) but also the limitations: bioaccessibility, stability, delivery challenges, and gaps between preclinical promise and clinical reality. Useful for understanding where the science stands — and where it remains speculative. ScienceDirect
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100353

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“Therapeutic peptides: historical perspectives, current development trends, and future directions”
This historical review outlines how peptide-based therapeutics have evolved since early hormone analogs (like insulin) to modern engineered peptides. It highlights both successes and persistent obstacles — showing how many peptides never translated from lab to clinic because of stability, bioavailability, or delivery issues. PubMed
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28720325/

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