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Self-assembly of tripeptides into γ-turn nanostructures
Yumi Ozawa1, Hisako Sato2, Yohei Kayano3
1Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan. izuruk@ynu.ac.jp.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|April 11, 2019
Summary
Phenylalanine-based peptides self-assemble into functional materials. A specific diastereomer, FFf, uniquely forms a stable nanoplate via a gamma-turn conformation, revealing the role of d-amino acids in self-assembly.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Materials science
- Peptide chemistry
Background:
- Phenylalanine-based peptides are explored for novel functional materials.
- Understanding the impact of stereochemistry on peptide self-assembly is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of d-amino acid incorporation on peptide self-assembly.
- To characterize the supramolecular structures formed by phenylalanine diastereomers.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of four phenylalanine diastereomers (FFF, fFF, FfF, FFf).
- Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD), and solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
Main Results:
- Only the FFf diastereomer adopted a gamma-turn conformation.
- FFf self-assembled into a nanoplate structure with enhanced thermal stability.
- The FFf supramolecular structure involves hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking.
Conclusions:
- FFf forms a novel self-assembling gamma-turn conformation.
- The study elucidates the structural significance of d-amino acid residues in peptide supramolecular formation.
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