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Updated: May 5, 2026

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
Published on: February 6, 2020
Giant amino acids designed on the polysaccharide scaffold and their protein-like structural interconversion
Shun-ichi Tamaru1, Daisuke Tokunaga, Kaori Hori
1Department of Nanoscience Sojo University 4-22-1 Ikeda, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto 860-0082, Japan. stamaru@nano.sojo-u.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Amphoteric β-1,3-glucans possessing both amino groups and carboxylic acid groups on the C6 positions of glucose units were designed and synthesized from naturally produced curdlan. The amphoteric polysaccharides showed the isoelectric point and the pH responsive interconversion between the original triple helix and single-stranded random structures. Since the pH dependences are comparable to the typical properties of proteins, the polysaccharides can be considered as a new class of giant amino acids. Utilizing the pH responsiveness, pH-controlled catch-and-release has been realized for cationic peptides or anionic DNA. We believe that the amphoteric polysaccharide can act as a new potential polymer to construct stimuli-responsive smart materials on the basis of the polysaccharide scaffold.
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