Probing melittin helix-coil equilibria in solutions and vesicles

Melittin is a toxic, amphipathic peptide that rearranges from a random coil in solution to a helical structure upon binding to cell membranes or lipid vesicles. We have found that mutation of the valine at position five of the peptide to a phenylalanine or 3-nitrotyrosine induces aggregation and helix formation at low concentrations (20-80 microM). Donor-acceptor distances obtained from analyses of fluorescence energy transfer kinetics experiments with the 3-nitrotyrosine mutant indicate that both coil and helix structures are present in 2 and 20 microM aqueous solutions. The helical peptide population increases upon addition of phospholipid vesicles or in high ionic strength solutions.