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Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
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Diverging conformations guide dipeptide self-assembly into crystals or hydrogels.

M Monti1, E Scarel1, A Hassanali2

  • 1Chem. Pharm. Sc. Dept., University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, Trieste 34127, Italy. stener@units.it.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|August 22, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Predicting how dipeptides assemble into crystals or gels is difficult. This study reveals that different molecular shapes (conformers) guide self-organization, leading to distinct outcomes like crystals or gels.

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Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular chemistry
  • Biophysical chemistry

Background:

  • Predicting the self-assembly of small peptides, such as dipeptides, into ordered structures like crystals or gels remains a significant challenge in materials science and chemistry.
  • Understanding the factors that govern the transition between different self-assembled states is crucial for designing novel functional materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the conformational landscape of self-assembling dipeptides.
  • To elucidate the role of molecular conformation in directing dipeptide self-organization towards crystalline or gel phases.
  • To establish a link between electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra and specific dipeptide conformations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a combination of *in silico* (computational) modeling and experimental techniques.
  • Analyzed electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of self-assembling dipeptides.
  • Correlated spectroscopic data with predicted molecular conformations.

Main Results:

  • Identified distinct conformational ensembles for dipeptides that self-assemble into different structures.
  • Demonstrated that folded conformers are associated with one type of self-assembly (e.g., gels), while extended conformers are linked to another (e.g., crystals).
  • Successfully deciphered the relationship between ECD spectral features and the dominant molecular conformations driving self-organization.

Conclusions:

  • The conformational landscape of dipeptides is a critical determinant of their self-assembly outcome.
  • Specific molecular conformations, identifiable via ECD spectroscopy, act as key players in directing the formation of either crystals or gels.
  • This work provides a foundation for predicting and controlling dipeptide self-assembly based on molecular conformation.