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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation
Published on: August 1, 2018
"Threading" of beta-sheet peptides via radical polymerization
Takeshi Mori1, Shiro Yasutake, Hideki Inoue
1Department of Applied Chemistry and Center for Future Chemistry, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. moritcm@mbox.nc.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Researchers synthesized a peptide with a central diene group. This group enabled photopolymerization within an antiparallel beta-sheet structure, enhancing its stability against denaturation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Peptide self-assembly is crucial for developing novel biomaterials.
- Controlling the structural integrity and stability of self-assembled peptides is a significant challenge.
- Incorporating functional groups within peptide sequences offers opportunities for post-assembly modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a nonamer peptide incorporating a central diene group.
- To investigate the photopolymerization of aligned diene groups within an antiparallel beta-sheet structure.
- To assess the stability of the photopolymerized beta-sheet against denaturation.
Main Methods:
- Chemical synthesis of a nonamer peptide with a central diene moiety.
- Induction of antiparallel beta-sheet formation in the synthesized peptide.
- Photopolymerization of the aligned diene groups using UV irradiation.
- Acid denaturation assays and assessment of stability in hexafluoroisopropanol.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of the nonamer peptide containing a diene group.
- Alignment of diene groups approximately 5 Å apart within the antiparallel beta-sheet.
- Photopolymerization occurred without compromising the beta-sheet structure.
- The resulting photopolymerized beta-sheet exhibited enhanced stability against acid denaturation and hexafluoroisopropanol.
Conclusions:
- Diene-containing peptides can undergo controlled photopolymerization within self-assembled beta-sheet structures.
- This photopolymerization strategy effectively stabilizes the peptide beta-sheet.
- The findings suggest a novel method for creating robust peptide-based biomaterials.
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