Gilbertson, Scott R.2022-06-15December 22021-12December 2https://hdl.handle.net/10657/9199Beclin-1 is a protein required for autophagosome formation; thus, it is an essential protein regarding macroautophagy. The Kritzer group previously designed the DD5-o peptide to induce autophagy. The DD5-o peptide shows a helical structure in solution. In the last 20 years, there has been a lot of synthetic progress in developing non-peptide α-helix mimetics. We applied the Boger α-helix mimic to target one-helical-face of the protein Beclin-1 for potential modulation of autophagic flux for prospective use in oncology. We have synthesized a variety of compounds, and they have been sent to our collaborators for biological assays to be performed. The serotonin 2C receptor has been implicated in a variety of psychiatric disorders. Previously, a peptidomimetic was found to disrupt the association between the serotonin 2C receptor and the Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue (PTEN). This disruption enhances serotonin 2C receptor downstream signaling and potentiates serotonin 2C receptor agonists. We synthesized a variety of analogues of the peptidomimetic, and these analogues have been sent to our collaborators for biological assays to be performed. We also attempted new synthetic routes to the bioactive peptidomimetic.application/pdfengThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).Beclin-1helicalα-helixα-helix mimicsα-helix mimeticsone-helical-faceserotonin 2C receptorPhosphatase and Tensin HomologuePTENpeptidomimeticβ-Proline(S)-β-Proline(R)-β-Proline2022-06-15Thesisborn digital