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Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
Published on: November 21, 2013
Biological applications of water-soluble polypeptides with ordered secondary structures
Chenglong Ge1, Huan Ye, Fan Wu
1Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. liuyong1987@suda.edu.cn lcyin@suda.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Water-soluble polypeptides are a class of synthetic polymers with peptide bond frameworks imitating natural proteins and have broad prospects in biological applications. The regulation and dynamic transition of the secondary structures of water-soluble polypeptides have a great impact on their physio-chemical properties and biological functions. In this review article, we briefly introduce the current strategies to synthesize polypeptides and modulate their secondary structures. We then discuss the factors affecting the conformational stability/transition of polypeptides and the potential impact of side-chain functionalization on the ordered secondary structures, such as α-helix and β-sheet. We then summarize the biological applications of water-soluble polypeptides such as cell penetration, gene delivery, and antimicrobial treatment, highlighting the important roles of ordered secondary structures therein.
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