谷子叶绿体乙酰辅酶A羧化酶cDNA的克隆和禾本科除草剂靶位点的序列分析

乙酰辅酶A羧化酶是一个生物素羧化酶,它所催化的反应是脂肪酸生物合成中的第一个植物叶绿体中的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶是两类禾本科除草剂的靶蛋白.从抗除草剂拿捕净和感拿捕净的谷子(SetariaitalicaBeauv.)中克隆了两个乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的全长cDNA,分别命名为foxACC-R和foxACC-S,它们推导的蛋白质均编码2 321个氨基酸,然而在第1 780个氨基酸处,foxACC-R编码亮氨酸,而foxACC-S编码异亮氨酸.采用生物信息学方法,我们推断这个cDNA编码的是叶绿体中的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶,并预测了它的功能域和保守区.通过这两个cDNA编码的氨基酸序列与其他乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的序列比较得出结论,亮氨酸/异亮氨酸位点可能是APPs和CHDs两类除草剂作用的关键位点.Southern杂交分析的结果显示,该基因在谷子基因组中只有一个拷贝.     

抗拿捕净晋谷21突变体的筛选和分子鉴定

谷子(Setaria italica(L.)P.Beauv.)是我国重要的杂粮作物,具有抗旱耐贫瘠、水分利用率高、适应性广、营养丰富等特点,但谷子田间除草一直制约着谷子的集约化栽培和有机旱作产业规模化的推广与发展。为快速选育抗除草剂谷子品种,本试验以晋谷21突变体M2群体为试验材料,通过喷施0.33%拿捕净除草剂对晋谷21突变群体进行初次筛选和再次筛选,进而快速获得抗拿捕净除草剂突变体植株并对其进行分子鉴定。结果显示,在大田苗期喷施0.33%拿捕净除草剂的初次筛选中,筛选出抗拿捕净除草剂的晋谷21突变体共39个株系;对这39个突变体株系再次喷施0.33%拿捕净除草剂,筛选获得9个有抗拿捕净除草剂特性的株系。对筛选获得的抗拿捕净突变体株系的其中3个株系共15个植株进行分子鉴定,发现有4个突变体植株的ACCase基因编码的第1780个氨基酸-异亮氨酸突变为亮氨酸。该结果可为今后利用分子生物学手段改良名优谷子品种晋谷21、加速抗除草剂谷子品种的选育提供理论和材料基础。     

看麦娘对稀禾啶和高效氟吡甲禾灵产生抗药性的分子基础

采用双向等位基因特异性PCR研究不同抗药性生物型看麦娘(Alopecurus aequalis Sobol.)对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(ACCase)抑制剂类除草剂稀禾啶(sethoxydim)和高效氟吡甲禾灵(haloxyfop-R-methyl)产生交互抗性的分子基础.结果表明:对稀禾啶产生的高抗性的JXRII生物型能特异性多扩增出约495 bp的特异片断,而对稀禾啶表现敏感性及中等抗性生物型只能扩增出约770 bp的片断,比对序列发现编码的氨基酸由亮氨酸(Leu)替代了异亮氨酸(Ile).在研究其对高效氟吡甲禾灵产生抗药性分子基础时发现对该除草剂产生高抗型LYR生物型能特异性多扩增出约490 bp的片断,对其表现敏感性及中等抗性生物型只能扩增出1 100 bp,进一步证实了靶标酶ACCase可能存在多个突变位点而产生不同模式的抗药性,同时也表明芳氧苯氧基丙酸类(AOPP)和环己烯酮类(CHD)除草剂的作用位点是有差异的.     

粘红酵母乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（ACC）基因的克隆及CT功能域基因的原核表达

利用简并PCR结合染色体步移法首次克隆获得粘红酵母乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（ACC）基因的全长序列信息。序列分析表明,该基因包含2个内含子,分别位于42～147 bp和315～677 bp处,编码区域总长为6 801bp,推导的氨基酸序列进行二级结构分析具备乙酰辅酶A羧化酶典型的3个功能域：生物素羧化酶（BC）、生物素羧基载体蛋白（BCCP）和羧基转移酶（CT）。克隆该基因的CT功能域基因,连接到原核表达载体pET-28a上,在Escherichia coli BL21（DE3）中成功表达,利用Ni-NTA树脂柱纯化获得CT的可溶性重组蛋白,浓度为1.8mg/mL,为研究ACC的功能和针对CT作用的除草剂机理研究提供了有价值的材料。     

油菜叶绿体乙酰辅酶A羧化酶单交换表达载体的构建

根据已知序列设计引物,通过PCR扩增获得质体定位的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的4个亚基的基因序列。先将该酶4个亚基的基因进行拼接,然后将这4个拼接好的片段,克隆到pMD18-T载体上,得到质粒pH BM714。再以质粒pHBM714 DNA为模板,用分别带有CpoI和Asc I酶切位点的引物进行PCR扩增,PCR产物在dTTP的保护下经T4 DNA聚合酶处理,与将质粒pHBM720DNA纯化后经CpoI和AscI双酶切后得到的大片段连接,连接产物转化大肠杆菌Xl_(10)-gold,得到正确的重组子命名为pHBM726。此质粒pH BM726,即为带有壮观霉素抗性基因(aadA)筛选标记的质体定位的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶基因油菜叶绿体单交换表达载体;在此载体中壮观霉素抗性基因(aadA)、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的4个亚基的基因(ACC)和绿色荧光蛋白基因(gfp)共6个基因串联在一起,共用一个启动子序列,一起来进行表达;通过酶切检测、PCR验证和测序验证,均表明该表达载体构建成功。最后此载体在大肠杆菌中表达时,发现重组菌能够在含壮观霉素的培养基上生长,且在可见光下,能看到绿色荧光,表明壮观霉素抗性基因和绿色荧光蛋白基因均在大肠杆菌中成功表达;表达产物通过Western印迹验证表明组成乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的4个亚基的基因在大肠杆菌中成功表达。以上结果表明,该表达载体中串联排列的这6个基因均在大肠杆菌中成功表达。该研究结果可为质体定位的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶转叶绿体的研究奠定基础,为油菜油脂代谢研究提供参考。     

乙酰辅酶A羧化酶在治疗肥胖中的潜在作用

肥胖作为一种疾病引起了世界各国越来越多的重视。目前,对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的研究表明,该酶和肥胖的发生有着重大关系．脂肪的代谢异常是导致肥胖的重要原因之一。乙酰辅酶A羧化酶是脂肪代谢过程中的一种重要的调节酶．它的产物丙二酰辅酶A的含量在一定程度上控制着脂肪酸的代谢。因此对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的深入研究很可能为肥胖的治疗提供新的医疗手段。该文介绍乙酰辅酶A羧化酶在脂肪代谢中的作用、分类与调控．以及当前国际上对其研究的最新进展。     

乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中保守的色氨酸残基的生化功能（英文）北大核心CSCD

甲烷菌与甲烷八叠球菌是仅有的两种已知利用乙酸盐进行甲烷生成的菌属。稻田以及厌氧的废物分解物是甲烷生物生成的主要来源。甲烷菌在自然界广泛分布,相比甲烷八叠球菌,在低乙酸盐的环境中对乙酸盐仍有高亲和力。在甲烷生成第一步即将乙酸盐转化为乙酰辅酶A的过程中,与甲烷八叠球菌利用乙酸激酶与磷酸转乙酰酶激活途径不同,甲烷菌通过腺嘌呤形成乙酰辅酶A合成酶进行催化。在甲烷菌一属(Methanosaeta concilii)中,共发现5个乙酰辅酶A合成酶的编码基因,其中3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的生化及酶活特性已被确定。该3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶均以乙酸盐为其最优底物。尽管在短链乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中,发现酰基底物结合位点高度保守,但乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酰基底物范围极为广泛。本研究对甲烷菌中不同种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的酰基底物结合位点的关键氨基酸进行识别与比较,从而对乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酶活特性有更全面深入的了解。首先,我们对甲烷菌一属中乙酰辅酶A合成酶4进行生化性质测定。结果表明,该酶无催化一系列酰基底物为酰基辅酶A或其中间产物酰基腺苷酸的活性。通过序列对比发现,嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中高度保守的416位色氨酸残基在甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中被替换成528位苯丙氨酸残基。将甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中的528位苯丙氨酸残基点突变为色氨酸残基后,进行酶学性质测定,未检测到该突变体具有乙酰辅酶A/乙酰腺苷酸合成活性。我们进一步对嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中的416位色氨酸残基点突变为苯丙氨酸残基,酶活性质结果显示,突变酶对于乙酸盐以及丙酸盐作为底物时的活性未有明显差异。然而,以丙酸盐为底物时,释放丙酰腺苷酸中间产物。该结果表明,热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1对于底物乙酸盐或丙酸盐的催化作用不甚相同,苯丙氨酸中的苯甲酰环降低该酶保留中间产物丙酰腺苷酸,从而转化为丙酰辅酶A的能力。     

乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中保守的色氨酸残基的生化功能（英文）

甲烷菌与甲烷八叠球菌是仅有的两种已知利用乙酸盐进行甲烷生成的菌属。稻田以及厌氧的废物分解物是甲烷生物生成的主要来源。甲烷菌在自然界广泛分布,相比甲烷八叠球菌,在低乙酸盐的环境中对乙酸盐仍有高亲和力。在甲烷生成第一步即将乙酸盐转化为乙酰辅酶A的过程中,与甲烷八叠球菌利用乙酸激酶与磷酸转乙酰酶激活途径不同,甲烷菌通过腺嘌呤形成乙酰辅酶A合成酶进行催化。在甲烷菌一属(Methanosaeta concilii)中,共发现5个乙酰辅酶A合成酶的编码基因,其中3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的生化及酶活特性已被确定。该3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶均以乙酸盐为其最优底物。尽管在短链乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中,发现酰基底物结合位点高度保守,但乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酰基底物范围极为广泛。本研究对甲烷菌中不同种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的酰基底物结合位点的关键氨基酸进行识别与比较,从而对乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酶活特性有更全面深入的了解。首先,我们对甲烷菌一属中乙酰辅酶A合成酶4进行生化性质测定。结果表明,该酶无催化一系列酰基底物为酰基辅酶A或其中间产物酰基腺苷酸的活性。通过序列对比发现,嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中高度保守的416位色氨酸残基在甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中被替换成528位苯丙氨酸残基。将甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中的528位苯丙氨酸残基点突变为色氨酸残基后,进行酶学性质测定,未检测到该突变体具有乙酰辅酶A/乙酰腺苷酸合成活性。我们进一步对嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中的416位色氨酸残基点突变为苯丙氨酸残基,酶活性质结果显示,突变酶对于乙酸盐以及丙酸盐作为底物时的活性未有明显差异。然而,以丙酸盐为底物时,释放丙酰腺苷酸中间产物。该结果表明,热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1对于底物乙酸盐或丙酸盐的催化作用不甚相同,苯丙氨酸中的苯甲酰环降低该酶保留中间产物丙酰腺苷酸,从而转化为丙酰辅酶A的能力。     

植物乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的分子生物学与基因工程

植物中的乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(acetylCoAcarboxylase,ACCase)分两种类型:原核类型的ACCase位于质体中,是脂肪酸合成途径中的关键酶;真核类型的ACCase位于胞质溶胶中,催化形成的产物主要用于长链脂肪酸的合成以及类黄酮等次生代谢产物的合成。但禾本科植物的质体和胞质溶胶中的ACCase都属于真核类型,其中质体中的是环己烯酮类和芳氧苯氧丙酸类等除草剂作用的靶蛋白。文中主要综述了植物中ACCase的生理功能、分子生物学特征及其对两类除草剂的敏感性,并对其基因工程作了展望。     

植物病原细菌Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato基因组中的信号肽分析

应用SignalP 3.0 对植物病原细菌Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000菌株基因组中的全部5 615个ORFs进行了分析,确定其中679个ORFs所编码蛋白质的N-端有信号肽序列,其中已经命名并有注释的有107个ORFs。信号肽的长度以19 ~31 个氨基酸居多,其中最多的是23 个氨基酸的信号肽。具有信号肽的ORFs编码蛋白的长度大多为101~400 个氨基酸之间。同时,对组成信号肽的氨基酸种类作了系统的分析,发现组成信号肽的氨基酸中非极性氨基酸占48.54%,极性氨基酸占18.67%,带负电荷氨基酸占24.54%,带正电荷氨基酸仅占8.00%,出现最多的3种氨基酸依次为亮氨酸、丙氨酸和丝氨酸,最少的氨基酸是异亮氨酸,在切割位点-1端的氨基酸中83.211%均为丙氨酸,在切割位点后3位的氨基酸中最多的氨基酸也是丙氨酸。通过分析确定628个分泌类信号肽,36个信号肽具有RR-motif的保守区段,15个脂蛋白类信号肽,未发现Prepilin-like 信号肽和Bacteriocin and Pheromone信号肽。     

The molecular bases for resistance to acetyl co-enzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibiting herbicides in two target-based resistant biotypes of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) (EC.6.4.1.2) is an essential enzyme in fatty acid biosynthesis and, in world agriculture, commercial herbicides target this enzyme in plant species. In nearly all grass species the plastidic ACCase is strongly inhibited by commercial ACCase inhibiting herbicides [aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP) and cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicide chemicals]. Many ACCase herbicide resistant biotypes (populations) of L. rigidum have evolved, especially in Australia. In many cases, resistance to ACCase inhibiting herbicides is due to a resistant ACCase enzyme. Two ACCase herbicide resistant L. rigidum biotypes were studied to identify the molecular basis of ACCase inhibiting herbicide resistance. The carboxyl-transferase (CT) domain of the plastidic ACCase gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Amino acid substitutions in the CT domain were identified by comparison of sequences from resistant and susceptible plants. The amino acid residues Gln-102 (CAG codon) and Ile-127 (ATA codon) were substituted with a Glu residue (GAG codon) and Leu residue (TTA codon), respectively, in both resistant biotypes. Amino acid positions 102 and 127 within the fragment sequenced from L. rigidum corresponded to amino acid residues 1756 and 1781, respectively, in the A. myosuroides full ACCase sequence. Allele-specific PCR results further confirmed the mutations linked with resistance in these populations. The Ile-to-Leu substitution at position 1781 has been identified in other resistant grass species as endowing resistance to APP and CHD herbicides. The Gln-to-Glu substitution at position 1756 has not previously been reported and its role in herbicide resistance remains to be established.     

A single amino acid substitution of Leu130Ile in snake DNases I contributes to the acquisition of thermal stability.

We purified pancreatic deoxyribonucleases I (DNases I) from three snakes, Elaphe quadrivirgata, Elaphe climacophora and Agkistrodon blomhoffii, and cloned their cDNAs. Each mature snake DNase I protein comprised 262 amino acids. Wild-type snake DNases I with Leu130 were more thermally unstable than wild-type mammalian and avian DNases I with Ile130. After substitution of Leu130Ile, the thermal stabilities of the snake enzymes were higher than those of their wild-type counterparts and similar to mammalian wild-type enzyme levels. Conversely, substituting Ile130Leu of mammalian DNases I made them more thermally unstable than their wild-type counterparts. Therefore, a single amino acid substitution, Leu130Ile, might be involved in an evolutionally critical change in the thermal stabilities of vertebrate DNases I. Amphibian DNases I have a Ser205 insertion in a Ca2+-binding site of mammalian and avian enzymes that reduces their thermal stabilities [Takeshita, H., Yasuda, T., Iida, R., Nakajima, T., Mori, S., Mogi, K., Kaneko, Y. & Kishi, K. (2001) Biochem. J.357, 473-480]. Thus, it is plausible that the thermally stable wild-type DNases I of the higher vertebrates, such as mammals and birds, have been generated by a single Leu130Ile substitution of reptilian enzymes through molecular evolution following Ser205 deletion from amphibian enzymes. This mechanism may reflect one of the evolutionary changes from cold-blooded to warm-blooded vertebrates.     

Structure-Guided Modification of Rhizomucor miehei Lipase for Production of Structured Lipids

To improve the performance of yeast surface-displayed Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RML) in the production of human milk fat substitute (HMFS), we mutated amino acids in the lipase substrate-binding pocket based on protein hydrophobicity, to improve esterification activity. Five mutants: Asn87Ile, Asn87Ile/Asp91Val, His108Leu/Lys109Ile, Asp256Ile/His257Leu, and His108Leu/Lys109Ile/Asp256Ile/His257Leu were obtained and their hydrolytic and esterification activities were assayed. Using Discovery Studio 3.1 to build models and calculate the binding energy between lipase and substrates, compared to wild-type, the mutant Asp256Ile/His257Leu was found to have significantly lower energy when oleic acid (3.97 KJ/mol decrease) and tripalmitin (7.55 KJ/mol decrease) were substrates. This result was in accordance with the esterification activity of Asp256Ile/His257Leu (2.37-fold of wild-type). The four mutants were also evaluated for the production of HMFS in organic solvent and in a solvent-free system. Asp256Ile/His257Leu had an oleic acid incorporation of 28.27% for catalyzing tripalmitin and oleic acid, and 53.18% for the reaction of palm oil with oleic acid. The efficiency of Asp256Ile/His257Leu was 1.82-fold and 1.65-fold that of the wild-type enzyme for the two reactions. The oleic acid incorporation of Asp256Ile/His257Leu was similar to commercial Lipozyme RM IM for palm oil acidolysis with oleic acid. Yeast surface-displayed RML mutant Asp256Ile/His257Leu is a potential, economically feasible catalyst for the production of structured lipids.     

Dependence of alpha-helical and beta-sheet amino acid propensities on the overall protein fold type

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: A large number of studies have been carried out to obtain amino acid propensities for alpha- helices and beta-sheets. The obtained propensities for alpha-helices are consistent with each other, and the pair-wise correlation coefficient is frequently high. On the other hand, the beta-sheet propensities obtained by several studies differed significantly, indicating that the context significantly affects beta-sheet propensity. RESULTS: We calculated amino acid propensities for alpha-helices and beta-sheets for 39 and 24 protein folds, respectively, and addressed whether they correlate with the fold. The propensities were also calculated for exposed and buried sites, respectively. Results showed that alpha-helix propensities do not differ significantly by fold, but beta-sheet propensities are diverse and depend on the fold. The propensities calculated for exposed sites and buried sites are similar for alpha-helix, but such is not the case for the beta-sheet propensities. We also found some fold dependence on amino acid frequency in beta-strands. Folds with a high Ser, Thr and Asn content at exposed sites in beta-strands tend to have a low Leu, Ile, Glu, Lys and Arg content (correlation coefficient = 0.90) and to have flat beta-sheets. At buried sites in beta-strands, the content of Tyr, Trp, Gln and Ser correlates negatively with the content of Val, Ile and Leu (correlation coefficient = 0.93). "All-beta" proteins tend to have a higher content of Tyr, Trp, Gln and Ser, whereas alpha/beta proteins tend to have a higher content of Val, Ile and Leu. CONCLUSIONS: The alpha-helix propensities are similar for all folds and for exposed and buried residues. However, beta-sheet propensities calculated for exposed residues differ from those for buried residues, indicating that the exposed-residue fraction is one of the major factors governing amino acid composition in beta-strands. Furthermore, the correlations we detected suggest that amino acid composition is related to folding properties such as the twist of a beta-strand or association between two beta sheets.     

Liposome-assisted selective polycondensation of alpha-amino acids and peptides

The main question of this paper is whether and to what extend lipid bilayers can aid in the polycondensation of amino acids and peptides. This means in particular how such bilayers can favor the selection of certain sequences out of a large number of theoretical possible ones. In a first series of experiments we started from a library of Trp-containing dipeptides of the type Trp-X where X is an amino acid residue; and we could show that, when adding this mixture to the POPC liposomes containing a hydrophobic quinoline condensing agent (EEDQ), only the hydrophobic Trp-Trp dipeptide is selected out by the liposomes and transformed into a longer oligomer. Trp-oligomers up to 29 monomers long (water insoluble) could be obtained by using the matrix support of liposomes. Mixed POPC/DDAB liposomes (positive charge) were used to produce co-oligopeptides that contain Trp and Glu residues in the same sequence. Arg/Trp and His/Trp containing sequences were obtained in presence of negatively charged liposomes (mixed POPC/DOPA-liposomes). The polycondensation of racemic NCA-amino acids has been studied to clarify if homochiral sequences are produced preferentially in presence or absence of liposomes. LC-MS and isotope labeling of the L-amino acid, participating in the polymerization reaction achieved this on the level of a direct product analysis. So the individual stereoisomer distribution up to a polymerization degree of 10 (in the case of Trp) could be determined. The data for Trp and other amino acids (Leu, Ile) and amino acid mixtures (Trp/Leu, Trp/Ile, Leu/Ile and Trp/Leu/Ile) show that homochiral sequences are produced preferentially if compared with a random (Bernoulli) distribution.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase and 3-phosphoglycerate kinase loci in wheat and other grasses

We have applied a two-gene system based on the sequences of nuclear genes encoding multi-domain plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and plastid 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) to study grass evolution. Our analysis revealed that these genes are single-copy in most of the grass species studied, allowing the establishment of orthologous relationships between them. These relationships are consistent with the known facts of their evolution: the eukaryotic origin of the plastid ACCase, created by duplication of a gene encoding the cytosolic multi-domain ACCase gene early in grass evolution, and the prokaryotic (endosymbiont) origin of the plastid PGK. The major phylogenetic relationships among grasses deduced from the nucleotide sequence comparisons of ACCase and PGK genes are consistent with each other and with the milestones of grass evolution revealed by other methods. Nucleotide substitution rates were calculated based on multiple pairwise sequence comparisons. On a relative basis, with the divergence of the Pooideae and Panicoideae subfamilies set at 60 million years ago (MYA), events leading to the Triticum/Aegilops complex occurred at the following intervals: divergence of Lolium (Lolium rigidum) at 35 MYA, divergence of Hordeum (Hordeum vulgare) at 11 MYA and divergence of Secale (Secale cereale) at 7 MYA. On the same scale, gene duplication leading to the multi-domain plastid ACCase in grasses occurred at 129 MYA, divergence of grass and dicot plastid PGK genes at 137 MYA, and divergence of grass and dicot cytosolic PGK genes at 155 MYA. The ACCase and PGK genes provide a well-understood two-locus system to study grass phylogeny, evolution and systematics.     

Fitness costs associated with acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase mutations endowing herbicide resistance in American sloughgrass (Beckmannia syzigachne Steud.)

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Partial molar heat capacities of the side chains of some amino acid residues in aqueous solution. The influence of the neighboring charges

Partial molar heat capacities of the side chains of some amino acid residues (Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Ser) have been determined over a broad temperature range from calorimetric heat capacity measurements of the corresponding tripeptides and cyclodipeptides. The data obtained are compared with those determined earlier from the heat capacities of analog compounds. It is shown that in amino acids and even tripeptides of the Gly-X-Gly type, the influence of the end charges on the heat capacity of the side chain is rather significant even in buffered solutions of high ionic strength.