Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
Published on: November 21, 2013
Phenylalanine dimer assembly structure as the basic building block of an amyloid like photoluminescent nanofibril
Prabhjot Singh1, Nishima Wangoo, Rohit K Sharma
1Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Panjab University, Sector 25, Chandigarh-160014, India.
Abstract:
A phenylalanine dimer assembly (Phe-DA) is reported as a basic constituent of a light emitting β-amyloid type nanofibril network. The size and composition of the Phe-DA structure were characterized using various theoretical and experimental techniques. Further, the mechanism involved in the phenylalanine self-assembly process from Phe-DA to the nanofibril network was studied using optical spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The discovery of Phe-DA and its unique optical properties may pave the way for design and development of novel theranostics against metabolite based pathalogical disorders. Further, the role of the Phe-DA structure as the elementary unit in the formation of a long range assembly structure may provide vital understanding for the development of functional materials using simple organic molecules.
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
Amyloid Fibrils
Protein Organization
Protein Organization
The primary structure of a protein is its amino acid sequence....
Protein Folding
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...

