SH2 domain protein interaction and possibilities for pharmacological intervention

SHZ domain containing proteins play a key role in the process of intracellular transmission of signalling events initiated at the cell surface. As a pre-requisite in the fulfilment of this function, these proteins bind to a variety of phospho-tyrosine (pY) containing target molecules. Delineation of these binding sites as essentially short linear peptides (both structurally and functionally) has led to the suggestion that the activity of these signalling complexes may be manipulated by the development of relatively simple peptide reagents. This review examines the range of possibilities open to this approach and the extent to which positive results have already been realised.