Stabilized minimal coiled-coil mimetics

1. A macrostructure comprising:

(i) an antiparallel coiled-coil structure of FIG. 14

wherein:

each ∘ and each ⊗ is independently absent or a modified or unmodified amino acid residue or analogue thereof, with the proviso that at least seven contiguous amino acid residues/analogues are present in each coil, wherein

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, a′, b′, c′, d′, e′, f′, and g′ indicate the location of the amino acid residues/analogues within the coiled-coil structure and

each ⊗ amino acid residue is a modified or unmodified amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, homocysteine, selenocysteine, leucine, isoleucine, hexafluoroleucine, valine, hexafluorovaline, allylglycine, threonine, and analogues of each of the preceding residues;

each is absent or a covalent linker (Linker) between two amino acid residues/analogues, wherein:

each Linker A is independently a linker between a g* amino acid residue and a g′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the g* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the g′* amino acid residue is 10-25 Å;

each Linker B is independently a linker between an a* amino acid residue and a d′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the a* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the d′* amino acid residue is 5-15 Å;

each Linker C is independently a linker between a d* amino acid residue and an a′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the d* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the a′* amino acid residue is 5-15 Å;

each Linker D is independently a linker between an e* amino acid residue and an e′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the e* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the e′* amino acid residue is 10-25 Å;

and

at least one Linker A or Linker D is present;

each is a point of attachment from a terminal nitrogen to H, —PG 1 , —C(O)R, —C(O)NR 2 , —C(O)NH 2 , —R, —C(O)OR, an amino acid, a peptide, a tag, or a targeting moiety, where each R is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, an arylalkyl, a peptide, a targeting moiety, or a tag; and wherein PG 1 is a protecting group for protection of an amine; and

each is a point of attachment from a terminal carbonyl to H, —OPG 2 , —NPG 2 , —OR, —OH, —NR 2 , —NH 2 , —NRC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, —NHC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, an amino acid, a peptide, a tag, or a targeting moiety, where each R is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, an arylalkyl, a peptide, a targeting moiety, or a tag; and wherein PG 2 is a protecting group for protection of a carboxylic acid;

or (ii) a parallel coiled-coil structure of FIG. 15

wherein:

each ∘ and each ◯ is independently absent or a modified or unmodified amino acid residue or analogue thereof, with the proviso that at least seven contiguous amino acid residues/analogues are present in each coil, wherein

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, a′, b′, c′, d′, e′, f′, and g′ indicate the location of the amino acid residues/analogues within the coiled-coil structure and

each ⊗ amino acid residue is a modified or unmodified amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, homocysteine, selenocysteine, leucine, isoleucine, hexafluoroleucine, valine, hexafluorovaline, allylglycine, threonine, and analogues of each of the preceding residues;

each is absent or a covalent linker (Linker) between two amino acid residues/analogues, wherein:

each Linker E is independently a linker between a g* amino acid residue and an e′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the g* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the e′* amino acid residue is 10-25 Å;

each Linker F is independently a linker between a d* amino acid residue and a d′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the d* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the d′* amino acid residue is 5-15 Å;

each Linker G is independently a linker between an a* amino acid residue and an a′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the a* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the a′* amino acid residue is 5-15 Å;

each Linker H is independently a linker between an e* amino acid residue and a g′* amino acid residue, wherein the length of the linker is such that the spatial distance between the Cα position of the e* amino acid residue and the Cα position of the g′* amino acid residue is 10-25 Å; and

at least one Linker E or Linker H is present; and

each is a point of attachment from a terminal nitrogen to H, —PG 1 , —C(O)R, —C(O)NR 2 , —C(O)NH 2 , —R, —C(O)OR, an amino acid, a peptide, a tag, or a targeting moiety, where each R is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, an arylalkyl, a peptide, a targeting moiety, or a tag; and wherein PG 1 is a protecting group for protection of an amine; and

each is a point of attachment from a terminal carbonyl to H, —OPG 2 , —NPG 2 , —OR, —OH, —NR 2 , —NH 2 , —NRC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, —NHC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, an amino acid, a peptide, a tag, or a targeting moiety, where each R is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, an arylalkyl, a peptide, a targeting moiety, or a tag; and wherein PG 2 is a protecting group for protection of a carboxylic acid.

2. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein each Linker is independently selected from the group, consisting of alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, ethers, thioethers, amides, maleimides, esters, disulfides, diselenides, —O—, —S—, —Se—, and any combination thereof.

3. The macrostructure of claim 2 , wherein at least one of Linker A, Linker D, Linker E, and Linker H has the formula —Z n —, wherein n is a number from 1 to 25 and each Z is independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, triazole-diyl, thiazole-diyl, oxazole-diyl, ethers, amides, esters, maleimides, thioethers, O, S, and Se.

4. The macrostructure of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of Linker A, Linker D, Linker E, and Linker H is independently selected from the group consisting of

wherein each marks a connection point to the Cα carbon in a linked residue/analogue.

5. The macrostructure of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of Linker A, Linker D, Linker E, and Linker H:

(i) has the formula

wherein:

Q 1 is a C 1-8 alkylene or a moiety of formula (C 1-8 alkylene-X—C 0-8 alkylene) n ;

Q 2 is C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene, a moiety of formula C 1-8 alkylene-X—C 1-8 alkylene, or a moiety of formula -Q 4 -Q 5 -Q 6 -; wherein each C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene can be optionally substituted from 1 to 4 (1, 2, 3, or 4) times with substituents independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of H, halogen, C 1-8 alkyl, ═C(O), NHR, N(R) 2 , OR, and SR;

Q 3 is a C 1-8 alkylene or a moiety of formula (C 1-8 alkylene-X—C 0-8 alkylene) n ;

Q 4 is selected from the group consisting of O, —C(O)—NR—, —NR—C(O)—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—, —C(O)—S—, —S—C(O)—, C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene, wherein each C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene can be optionally substituted from 1 to 4 (1, 2, 3, or 4) times with substituents independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of H, halogen, C 1-8 alkyl, ═C(O), NHR, N(R) 2 , OR, and SR;

Q 5 is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)—NR—, —NR—C(O)—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—, —C(O)—S—, S—C(O)—, C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene, or is a moiety of formula C 1-8 alkylene-(X—C 1-8 alkylene) n , wherein each of C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene can be optionally substituted from 1 to 4 (1, 2, 3, or 4) times with substituents independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of H, halogen, C 1-8 alkyl, ═C(O), NHR, N(R) 2 , OR, and SR;

Q 6 is selected from the group consisting of O, —C(O)—NR—, —NR—C(O)—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—, —C(O)—S—, —S—C(O)—, C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene, wherein each C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, C 2-8 alkynylene, monocyclic carbocycle, fused bicyclic carbocycle, non-aromatic heterocycle, arylene, and heteroarylene can be optionally substituted from 1 to 4 (1, 2, 3, or 4) times with substituents independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of H, halogen, C 1-8 alkyl, ═C(O), NHR, N(R) 2 , OR, and SR;

each X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, CR 2 , NR, P, C 2-8 alkynylene, arylene, and heteroarylene (preferably O, S, CH 2 , NR, or CR≡CR);

each R is independently H, C 1-8 alkyl, or aryl;

n is 1 to 10; and

each marks a connection point to the Cα carbon in a linked residue/analogue;

(ii) has the following formula

wherein X is O, S, CR 2 , NR, or P (preferably O, S, CH 2 or NR), wherein X 1 is O, S, NH, and NR, wherein each R is independently H, alkyl, or aryl, wherein Y is S, and wherein each marks a connection point to the Cα carbon in a linked residue/analogue; or

(iii) has the following formula

wherein X is O, S, CR 2 , NR, or P (preferably O, S, CH 2 or NR), wherein X 1 is O, S, C, CR, N, NH, and NR, wherein each R is independently H, alkyl, or aryl, wherein Y is S, and wherein each marks a connection point to the Cα carbon in a linked residue/analogue.

6. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of Linker B, Linker C, Linker F, and Linker G is independently selected from the group consisting of disulfides, diselenides, C 1-8 alkylene, C 2-8 alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, triazole-diyl, and thiazole-diyl.

7. The macrostructure of claim 6 , wherein the at least one of Linker B, Linker C, Linker F, and Linker G is independently a disulfide bond from a cysteine or homocysteine residue, a diselenide from a selenocysteine residue, an alkylene from an allylglycine residue, or an arylene linker.

8. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein one Linker is present.

9. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein (i) at least one Linker A or Linker D is present and at least one Linker B or Linker C is present or (ii) as least one Linker E or Linker H is present and at least one Linker F or Linker G is present.

10. The macrostructure of claim 9 , wherein (i) one Linker A or Linker D is present and one Linker B or Linker C is present or (ii) one Linker E or Linker H is present and one Linker F or Linker G is present.

11. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein the antiparallel coiled-coil structure is an antiparallel coiled-coil of Formula III:

wherein:

a 1 *, a 2 *, a 3 *, b 1 , b 2 , b 3 , c 1 , c 2 , c 3 , d 1 *, d 2 *, d 3 *, e 1 *, e 2 *, e 3 *, f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , g 0 *, g 1 *, g 2 *, a 1 ′*, a 2 ′*, a 3 ′*, b 2 ′, b 3 ′, c 1 ′, c 2 ′, c 3 ′, d 1 ′*, d 2 ′*, d 3 ′*, e 1 ′*, e 2 ′*, e 3 ′*, f 0 ′, f 2 ′, g 0 ′*, g 1 ′*, and g 2 ′* are each independently absent or a modified or unmodified amino acid residue or analogue thereof, with the proviso that at least seven contiguous amino acid residues/analogues are present in each coil;

a 1 *, a 2 *, a 3 *, d 1 *, d 2 *, d 3 *, a 1 ′*, a 2 ′*, a 3 ′*, d 1 ′*, d 2 ′*, and d 3 ′* each independently have the formula (a)

 wherein:

R 1a , R 1b , R 1c , and R 1d are each independently hydrogen, an amino acid side chain, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl, wherein each amino acid side chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with H, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an azide, —OR 5 , or —SR 5 ; and at least one of R 1a and R 1c is a side chain of a modified or unmodified amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, homocysteine, selenocysteine, leucine, isoleucine, hexafluoroleucine, valine, hexafluorovaline, allylglycine, threonine, and analogues of each of the preceding residues; and

when a Linker B or a Linker C is attached to the residue of formula (a), the Linker B or Linker C is attached to or replaces one of R 1a , R 1b , R 1c , and R 1d ;

e 1 *, e 2 *, e 3 *, g 1 *, g 2 *, e 1 ′*, e 2 ′*, e 3 ′*, g 0 ′*, g 1 ′*, and g 2 ′* each independently have the formula (b) and g 0 * has the formula (b′)

 wherein:

R 2a , R 2b , R 2c , and R 2d are each independently hydrogen, an amino acid side chain, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl, wherein each amino acid side chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with H, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an azide, —OR 5 , or —SR 5 ; and at least one of R 2a and R 2c is an amino acid side chain; and

when a Linker A or a Linker D is attached to a residue of formula (b), the Linker A or Linker D is attached to or replaces one of R 2a , R 2b , R 2c , and R 2d ;

b 1 , b 2 , b 3 , c 1 , c 2 , c 3 , f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , b 1 ′, b 2 ′, b 3 ′, c 1 ′, c 2 ′, c 3 ′, f 1 ′, and f 2 ′ each independently have the formula (c) and f 0 ′ has the formula (c′)

 wherein each R 3 is independently hydrogen, an amino acid side chain, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl, wherein each amino acid side chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with H, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an azide, —OR 5 , or —SR 5 ;

each R 4 is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl; and

each R 5 in Formula III is independently selected from the group consisting of H, —PG (where PG is a protecting group), an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, and an arylalkyl.

12. The macrostructure of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is met:

(A) in at least one residue of formula (a), (i) one of R 1a and R 1c is the side chain of a modified or unmodified amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, homocysteine, selenocysteine, leucine, isoleucine, hexafluoroleucine, valine, hexafluorovaline, allylglycine, threonine, and analogues of each of the preceding residues, and (ii) R 1b , R 1d , and the other of R 1a and R 1c are each independently hydrogen, a C 1-3 alkyl, or a C 2-3 alkenyl;

(B) in at least one residue of formula (b), (i) one of R 2a and R 2c is an amino acid side chain and (ii) R 2b , R 2d , and the other of R 2a and R 2c are each independently hydrogen or a C 1-3 alkyl.

13. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein the parallel coiled-coil structure is a parallel coiled-coil of Formula IV:

wherein:

a 1 *, a 2 *, a 3 *, b 1 , b 2 , b 3 , c 1 , c 2 , c 3 , d 1 *, d 2 *, d 3 *, e 1 *, e 2 *, e 3 *, f 0 , f 1 , f 2 , g 0 *, g 1 *, g 2 *, a 1 ′*, a 2 ′*, a 3 ′*, b 1 ′, b 2 ′, b 3 ′, c 1 ′, c 2 ′, c 3 ′, d 1 ′*, d 2 ′*, d 3 ′*, e 1 ′*, e 2 ′*, e 3 ′*, f 0 ′, f 1 ′, f 2 ′, g 0 ′*, g 1 ′*, and g 2 ′* are each independently absent or a modified or unmodified amino acid residue or analogue thereof, with the proviso that at least seven contiguous amino acid residues/analogues are present in each coil;

a 1 *, a 2 *, a 3 *, d 1 *, d 2 *, d 3 *, a 1 ′*, a 2 ′*, a 3 ′*, d 1 ′*, d 2 ′*, and d 3 ′* each independently have the formula (a)

 wherein:

R 1a , R 1b , R 1c , and R 1d are each independently hydrogen, an amino acid side chain, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl, wherein each amino acid side chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with H, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an allkynyl, an azide, —OR 5 , or —SR 5 ; and at least one of R 1a and R 1c is a side chain of a modified or unmodified amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, homocysteine, selenocysteine, leucine, isoleucine, hexafluoroleucine, valine, hexafluorovaline, allylglycine, threonine, and analogues of each of the preceding residues; and

when a Linker B or a Linker C is attached to the residue of formula (a), the Linker B or Linker C is attached to or replaces one of R 1a , R 1b , R 1c , and R 1d ;

e 1 *, e 2 *, e 3 *, g 0 *, g 1 *, g 2 *, e 1 ′*, e 2 ′*, e 3 ′*, g 0 ′*, g 1 ′*, and g 2 ′* each independently have the formula (b)

 wherein:

R 2a , R 2b , R 2c , and R 2d are each independently hydrogen, an amino acid side chain, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl, wherein each amino acid side chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with H, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an azide, —OR 5 , or —SR 5 ; and at least one of R 2a and R 2c is an amino acid side chain; and

when a Linker A or a Linker D is attached to a residue of formula (b), the Linker A or Linker D is attached to or replaces one of R 2a , R 2b , R 2c , and R 2d ;

b 1 , b 2 , b 3 , c 1 , c 2 , c 3 , f 1 , f 2 , b 1 ′, b 2 ′, b 3 ′, c 1 ′, c 2 ′, c 3 ′, f 1 ′, and f 2 ′ each independently have the formula (c) and f 0 and f 0 ′ have the formula (c′)

wherein each R 3 is independently hydrogen, an amino acid side chain, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl, wherein each amino acid side chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with H, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, an azide, —OR 5 , or —SR 5 ;

each R 4 is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, or an arylalkyl; and

each R 5 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, —PG (where PG is a protecting group), an alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, a cycloalkyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, and an arylalkyl.

14. The macrostructure of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is met:

(A) in at least one residue of formula (a), (i) one of R 1a and R 1c is the side chain of a modified or unmodified amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, homocysteine, selenocysteine, leucine, isoleucine, hexafluoroleucine, valine, hexafluorovaline, allylglycine, threonine, and analogues of each of the preceding residues, and (ii) R 1b , R 1d , and the other of R 1a and R 1c are each independently hydrogen, a C 1-3 alkyl, or a C 2-3 alkenyl;

(B) in at least one residue of formula (b), (i) one of R 2a and R 2c is an amino acid side chain and (ii) R 2b , R 2d , and the other of R 2a and R 2c are each independently hydrogen or a C 1-3 alkyl.

15. The macrostructure of claim 1 , wherein:

(i) the first strand of the antiparallel coiled-coil structure comprises at least ten contiguous modified or unmodified amino acid residues (or analogues thereof), wherein the at least ten contiguous amino acid residues/analogues have the formula g X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -X 5 -X 6 -X 7 -X 8 -X 9 -X 10 b , wherein X 1 is Glu, Leu, Arg, Lys, Thr, or Val (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 2 is Cys, HCys, Leu, Ile, allylleucine, Val, allylglycine, Thr, selenocysteine, hexafluoroleucine, or hexafluorovaline (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 3 is any residue/analogue; X 4 is His, Tyr, Phe, Lys, Gln, or Trp (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 5 is Cys, HCys, Leu, le, allylleucine, Val, allylglycine, Thr, selenocysteine, hexafluoroleucine, or hexafluorovaline (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 6 is any residue/analogue; X 7 is Glu, Asn, Trp, Leu, Glu, or Gln (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 8 is Leu, Met, Ala, His, or Ser (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 9 is Cys, HCys, Leu, Ile, allylleucine, Val, allylglycine, Thr, selenocysteine, hexafluoroleucine, or hexafluorovaline (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); and X 10 is any residue/analogue;

(ii) the second strand of the antiparallel coiled-coil structure comprises at least ten contiguous modified or unmodified amino acid residues (or analogues thereof), wherein the at least ten contiguous amino acid residues/analogues have the formula c′ X 1 ′-X 2 ′-X 3 ′-X 4 ′-X 5 ′-X 6 ′-X 7 ′-X 8 ′-X 9 ′-X 10 e′ , wherein X 1 ′ is Glu, Asn, Leu, Gln, Met, or Ala (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 2 ′ is Cys, HCys, Leu, Ile, allylleucine, Val, allylglycine, Thr, selenocysteine, hexafluoroleucine, or hexafluorovaline (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 3 ′ is any residue/analogue; X 4 ′ is any residue/analogue; X 5 ′ is Ala, Ser, Thr, Gly, or Asp (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 6 ′ is Cys, HCys, Leu, Ile, allylleucine, Val, allylglycine, Thr, selenocysteine, hexafluoroleucine, or hexafluorovaline (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 7 ′ is Arg, Leu, Gln, Met, Glu, or Asp (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 8 ′ is Tyr, Val, Phe, Trp, or Met (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); X 9 ′ is Cys, HCys, Leu, Ile, allylleucine, Val, allylglycine, Thr, selenocysteine, hexafluoroleucine, or hexafluorovaline (or analogues of each of the preceding residues); and X 10 ′ is any residue/analogue;

(iii) g , b , c′ , and e′ indicate where the ten contiguous amino acids/analogues appear within the antiparallel coiled-coil structure;

(iv) residues in the e/e′ and g/g′ positions can be optionally modified to facilitate attachment of a Linker or replaced with a Linker, if present; and

(v) residues in the a/a′ and d/d′ positions can be optionally modified to facilitate attachment of a Linker, if present.

16. The macrostructure of claim 15 , wherein:

(i) X 1 is Glu (or analogue thereof); X 2 is Leu (or analogue thereof); X 3 is Trp (or analogue thereof); X 4 is His (or analogue thereof); X 5 is Leu (or analogue thereof); X 6 is any residue/analogue; X 7 is Glu (or analogue thereof); X 8 is Leu (or analogue thereof); X 9 is Leu (or analogue thereof); and X 10 is Trp (or analogue thereof);

(ii) X 1 ′ is Glu (or analogue thereof); X 2 ′ is Leu (or analogue thereof); X 3 ′ is Trp (or analogue thereof); X 4 ′ is Arg (or analogue thereof); X 5 ′ is Ser (or analogue thereof); X 6 ′ is Ile (or analogue thereof); X 7 ′ is Arg (or analogue thereof); X 8 ′ is Val (or analogue thereof); X 9 ′ is Leu (or analogue thereof); and X 10 ′ is any residue/analogue.

17. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a macrostructure according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

18. A method of inhibiting interaction between the AML1-ETO-containing transcription factor complex and an NHR2 binding motif, said method comprising:

contacting the transcription factor complex and/or the NHR2 binding motif with a macrostructure according to claim 15 under conditions effective to inhibit interaction between the AML1-ETO-containing transcription factor complex and the NHR2 binding motif.

19. A method of modulating transcription of a gene in a cell, wherein transcription of the gene is regulated by interaction between AML1-ETO-containing transcription factor complex and an NHR2 binding motif, said method comprising:

contacting the cell with a macrostructure according to claim 1 under conditions effective to modulate transcription of the gene.

20. A method of treating leukemia in a subject, said method comprising:

administering to the subject a macrostructure according to claim 1 under conditions effective to treat leukemia in the subject.