Cyclization strategy

Carbohydrate metabolism serves as a central hub for energy supply and biosynthesis in living organisms and plays a critical role in the onset and progression of various diseases. In recent years, studies have shown that tumor cells reprogram their energy metabolism through aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) to support rapid proliferation. Immune cells also rely on specific carbohydrate metabolic pathways to regulate their activation and differentiation states, while disorders such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome arise directly from dysregulation of carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, enzymes and key metabolic nodes involved in carbohydrate metabolism have become important targets for drug discovery, and therapeutic strategies targeting glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and energy metabolism are continuously advancing the treatment of cancer and metabolic diseases. Therefore, systematic analysis of carbohydrate metabolic networks and their associated metabolites is of great significance for elucidating disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic approaches.

The MCE Carbohydrate Metabolism Metabolite Library is constructed based on classical carbohydrate metabolic pathways and contains 76 metabolites. It systematically integrates key metabolic networks, including glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, monosaccharide metabolism, and sugar acid interconversions. The library comprehensively covers core metabolic nodes from glucose uptake and utilization to energy production and biosynthesis, while also incorporating important upstream and downstream intermediates. It enables accurate representation of intracellular metabolic flux dynamics and is well suited for applications such as metabolic flux analysis, target validation, and mechanistic studies. Furthermore, it provides robust support for multi-omics integration and the development of precision intervention strategies.

In the progression of various diseases, metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a key hallmark. Lactate, as an important metabolic signaling molecule, is widely involved in tumorigenesis, immune regulation, and inflammatory responses. Particularly within the tumor microenvironment, the abnormal accumulation of lactate not only affects cellular energy metabolism but also promotes disease progression by modulating immune cell functions and mediating protein lactylation, thereby participating in epigenetic regulation and signaling networks. Therefore, systematic investigation of lactate metabolic pathways and their associated metabolites is of great significance for understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

The MCE lactic acid metabolite compound library contains 63 compounds and is constructed around key metabolic pathways involving lactate production, transport, and utilization. This library systematically includes core intermediates from glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the lactate cycle. Focusing on disease-associated metabolic reprogramming, it is suitable for research in oncology, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. The library can be used to elucidate the roles of lactate in tumor microenvironment regulation, immune evasion, and epigenetic modifications (such as protein lactylation). In addition, it provides high-quality small-molecule resources for drug screening, facilitating the discovery of potential modulators targeting key enzymes (such as LDH) or transporters (such as MCTs) involved in lactate metabolism.

Cyclic peptide library have advantages such as high affinity, high selectivity, and suitability for targeting protein–protein interactions. Through DEL synthesis technology, the library size can achieve hundreds of millions. DEL cyclic peptide library have advantages like low cost andhigh screeing efficiency, making them valuable for discovering lead compounds against challenging drug targets.

This cyclic peptide library is constructed with unnatural amino acids as building block, synthesized through DNA-compatible chemical reactions. Each cyclic peptide consist of six amino acids and constrained conformations such as side-chain cross-linking, disulfide bonds, and macrocyclization. These cyclic peptides exhibit significantly improved stability and druggability compared with linear peptides, filling the gap between small molecules and macromolecular biologics. Each cyclic peptide is uniquely conjugated to a DNA barcode sequence for molecular identification and sequencing decoding.

MCE’s cyclic peptide library has8 independent sub-libraries, with a total molecular diversity of 1.2 billion. It is constructed via multi-round combinatorial assembly of building blocks and diverse cyclization strategies, facilitating the discovery of cyclic peptide leads for undruggable targets.