Hierarchical ionic self-assembly of rod-comb block copolypeptide-surfactant complexes

Novel hierarchical nanostructures based on ionically self-assembled complexes of diblock copolypeptides and surfactants are presented. Rod-coil diblock copolypeptide poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate)-block-poly(L-lysine), PBLG-b-PLL (Mn = 25,000 and 8000 for PBLG and PLL, respectively, polydispersity index 1.08), was complexed with anionic surfactants dodecanesulfonic acid (DSA) or dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), denoted as PBLG-b-PLL(DSA)1.0 and PBLG-b-PLL(DBSA)1.0, respectively. The complexation leading to supramolecular rod-comb architectures was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and polarized optical microscopy (POM). PBLG-b-PLL, PBLG-b-PLL(DBSA)1.0, and PBLG-b-PLL(DSA)1.0 self-assemble with alternating PBLG lamellae and PLL-containing lamellae with a periodicity of 27-33 nm. Within the PBLG lamellae, the rod-like PBLG helices pack with a periodicity of ca. 1.3 nm. The internal structure of the PLL-containing lamellae depends on the complexation. For pure PBLG-b-PLL, the PLL chains adopt a random coil conformation and the PLL domains are disordered. For PBLG-b-PLL(DSA)1.0, lamellar self-assembly of periodicity of 3.7 nm within the PLL(DSA)1.0 domains is observed due to crystalline packing of the linear n-dodecyl tails. For PBLG-b-PLL(DBSA)1.0 with branched dodecyl tails, a distinct SAXS reflection is observed, suggesting self-assembly within the PLL(DBSA)1.0 domains with a periodicity of 2.9 nm. However, due to the absence of higher order reflections, the internal structure cannot be conclusively assigned. The efficient plasticization which leads to fluid-like liquid crystallinity in PBLG-b-PLL(DBSA)1.0 and an alpha-helical conformation according to FTIR allows us to suggest that the PLL(DBSA)1.0 domains have a hexagonal internal structure. The interplay of self-assembly at different length scales combined with rod-like liquid crystallinity can open new routes to design functional materials.     

Structure/activity studies of the anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody C595 and synthetic MUC1 mucin-core-related peptides and glycopeptides

MUC1 mucin is a large complex glycoprotein expressed on normal epithelial cells in humans and overexpressed and under or aberrantly glycosylated on many malignant cancer cells which consequently allows recognition of the protein core by antibodies. In order to understand how glycosylation may modulate or regulate antibody binding of mucin protein core epitopes, we have analyzed the antibody C595 (epitope RPAP) for its structure, stability, and its binding to a series of synthetic peptides and glycopeptides by a number of spectroscopic methods. Thermal and pH denaturation studies followed by changes in the CD spectrum of the antibody indicate critical involvement of specific residues to the stability of the antibody. Fluorescence binding studies indicate that alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) glycosylation of a MUC1 mucin synthetic peptide TAPPAHGVT9SAPDTRPAPGS20T21APPA at threonine residues 9 and 21 and serine residue 20 enhanced the binding of antibody. The structural effects of GalNAc glycosylation on the conformation of the MUC1 peptide were studied. CD of the peptides and glycopeptides in a cryogenic mixture cooled to approximately -97 degrees C revealed that a left-handed polyproline II helix (PPII) is adopted by the peptides in solution, which appears to be further stabilized by addition of the GalNAc residues. Consistent with the PPII helical structure, which has no intra-amide hydrogen bonds, high-field NMR spectroscopy of the glycopeptide revealed no sequential dNN, medium-range, or long-range nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) connectivities. These studies indicate that stabilization of the PPII helix by GalNAc glycosylation present the epitope of C595 antibody with a favorable conformation for binding. Furthermore, they illustrate that glycosylation of the MUC1 tumor marker protein with a simple O-linked saccharide expressed in many cancers, can enhance the binding of the clinically relevant C595 antibody.     

UV resonance Raman investigation of a 3(10)-helical peptide reveals a rough energy landscape

We used UVRRS at 194 and 204 nm excitation to examine the backbone conformation of a 13-residue polypeptide (gp41(659-671)) that has been shown by NMR to predominantly fold into a 3(10)-helix. Examination of the conformation sensitive AmIII(3) region indicates the peptide has significant populations of beta-turn, PPII, 3(10)-helix, and pi-helix-like conformations but little alpha-helix. We estimate that at 1 degree C on average six of the 12 peptide bonds are in folded conformations (predominantly 3(10)- and pi-helix), while the other six are in unfolded (beta-turn/PPII) conformations. The folded and unfolded populations do not change significantly as the temperature is increased from 1 to 60 degrees C, suggesting a unique energy landscape where the folded and unfolded conformations are essentially degenerate in energy and exhibit identical temperature dependences.     

4-Fluoroproline derivative peptides: effect on PPII conformation and SH3 affinity.

Eukaryotic signal transduction involves the assembly of transient protein-protein complexes mediated by modular interaction domains. Specific Pro-rich sequences with the consensus core motif PxxP adopt the PPII helix conformation upon binding to SH3 domains. For short Pro-rich peptides, little or no ordered secondary structure is usually observed before binding interactions. The association of a Pro-rich peptide with the SH3 domain involves unfavorable binding entropy due to the loss of rotational freedom on forming the PPII helix. With the aim of stabilizing the PPII helix conformation in the Pro-rich HPK1 decapeptide PPPLPPKPKF (P2), a series of P2 analogues was prepared, in which specific Pro positions were alternatively occupied by 4(S)- or 4(R)-4-fluoro-L-proline. The interactions of these peptides with the SH3 domain of the HPK1-binding partner HS1 were quantitatively analyzed by the NILIA-CD approach. A CD thermal analysis of the P2 analogues was performed to assess their propensity to adopt the PPII helix conformation. Contrary to our expectations, the K(d) values of the analogues were lower than that of the parent peptide P2. These results clearly show that the induction of a stable PPII helix conformation in short Pro-rich peptides is not sufficient to increase their affinity toward the SH3 domain and that the effect of 4-fluoroproline strongly depends on the position of this residue in the sequence and the chirality of the substituent in the pyrrolidine ring.     

Structure and molecular mobility of soy glycinin in the solid state

We report a multitechnique study of structural organization and molecular mobility for soy glycinin at a low moisture content (<30% w/w) and relate these to its glass-to-rubber transition. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are used to probe structure and mobility on different length and time scales. NMR (approximately 10(-6) to 10(-3) s) reveals transitions at a higher moisture content (>17%) than DSC or SAXS, which sample for much longer times (approximately 10 to 10(3) s) and where changes are detected at >13% water content at 20 degrees C. The mobility transitions are accompanied by small changes in unit-cell parameters and IR band intensities and are associated with the enhanced motion of the polypeptide backbone. This study shows how characteristic features of the ordered regions of the protein (probed by SAXS and FTIR) and mobile segments (probed by NMR and DSC) can be separately monitored and integrated within a mobility transformation framework.     

Formation of a unique crystal morphology for the poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer

The crystallization behaviors of the poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymer with the PEG weight fraction of 0.50 (PEG(50)-PCL(50)) was studied by DSC, WAXD, SAXS, and FTIR. A superposed melting point at 58.5 degrees C and a superposed crystallization temperature at 35.4 degrees C were obtained from the DSC profiles running at 10 degrees C/min, whereas the temperature-dependent FTIR measurements during cooling from the melt at 0.2 degrees C/min showed that the PCL crystals formed starting at 48 degrees C while the PEG crystals started at 45 degrees C. The PEG and PCL blocks of the copolymer crystallized separately and formed alternating lamella regions according to the WAXD and SAXS results. The crystal growth of the diblock copolymer was observed by polarized optical microscope (POM). An interesting morphology of the concentric spherulites developed through a unique crystallization behavior. The concentric spherulites were analyzed by in situ microbeam FTIR, and it was determined that the morphologies of the inner and outer portions were mainly determined by the PCL and PEG spherulites, respectively. However, the compositions of the inner and outer portions were equal in the analysis by microbeam FTIR.     

Molecular modeling of conformational properties of oligodepsipeptides

A depsipeptide is a chemical structure consisting of both ester and amide bonds. Quantum mechanics calculations have been performed to investigate the conformational properties of a depsidipeptide in the gas and solution phases. Similar to an alanine dipeptide, the depsidipeptide exhibits a strong preference for the polyproline II (PPII) helical conformation. Meanwhile, due to the changes in the intramolecular interaction, the propensity for beta-sheets and alpha-helices diminishes while an unusual inclination for the (phi,psi) = (-150 degrees ,0 degrees ) conformation was observed. A molecular mechanics model has been developed for polydepsipeptides based on the quantum mechanical study. Both simulated annealing and replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out on oligodepsipeptide sequences with alternating depsi and natural residues in solution. Novel helical structures have been indicated from the simulations. When glycine is used as the alternating natural amino acid residue, the PPII conformation of a depsi residue stabilizes the peptide into a right-handed helical structure while the alpha-helical conformation of the depsi residue favors an overall left-handed helical structure. The free energy analysis indicates that both the left- and the right-handed helices are equally likely to exist. When charged lysine is introduced as the alternating natural residue, however, it is found that the depsipeptide sequence prefers an extended conformation as in PPII. Our results indicate that the depsipeptide is potentially useful in designing protein mimetics with controllable structure, function, and chemistry.     

Poly-L-proline type II peptide mimics as probes of the active site occupancy requirements of cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

Based on the X-ray crystal structure of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) with the endogenous inhibitor PKI and the X-ray crystal structure of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) with a substrate peptide, a proposal is put forth that some protein kinases bind peptide substrates in their active sites in the poly-L-proline type II (PPII) conformation. In this work, PPII peptide mimics are evaluated as pseudosubstrate inhibitors of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) to explore if PKG also binds peptide substrates in the PPII conformation. Inhibition data of our PPII mimetics provide evidence that the P-1, P-2, and P-3 residues of substrate peptides bind in the PPII conformation (phi approximately -75 degrees, psi approximately 145 degrees). In addition, the inhibition data also suggest that the P-1, P-2, and P-3 residues in substrate peptides bind with a gauche(-) chi1 angle.     

Oblique self-assemblies and order-order transitions in polypeptide complexes with PEGylated triple-tail lipids

We report on highly ordered oblique self-assemblies in ionic complexes of PEGylated triple-tail lipids and cationic polypeptides, as directed by side-chain crystallization, demonstrating also reversible oblique-to-hexagonal order-order transitions upon melting of the side chains. This is achieved in bulk by complexing cationic homopolypeptides, poly-l-lysine (PLys), poly-l-arginine (PArg), and poly-l-histidine (PHis), in stoichiometric amounts with anionic lipids incorporating two hydrophobic alkyl tails and one hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) tail in a star-shaped A(2)B geometry. Based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the PLys and PArg complexes fold into α-helical conformation. Aiming to periodicities at different length scales, that is, hierarchies, the PEG tails were selected to control the separation of the polypeptide helices in one direction while the alkyl tails determine the distance between the hydrophilic polypeptide/PEG layers, resulting in an oblique arrangement of the helices. We expect that the high overall order, where the self-assembled domains are in 2D registry, is an outcome of a favorable interplay of plasticization due to the hydrophobic and hydrophilic lipid tails combined with the shape persistency of the peptide helices and the crystallization of the lipid alkyl chains. Upon heating the complexes over the melting temperature of the alkyl tails, an order-order transition from oblique to hexagonal columnar morphology was observed. This transition is reversible, that is, the oblique structure with 2D correlation of the helices is fully returned upon cooling, implying that the alkyl tail crystallization guides the structure formation. Also PHis complex forms an oblique self-assembly. However, instead of α-helices, FTIR suggests formation of helical structures lacking intramolecular hydrogen bonds, stabilized by steric crowding of the lipid. The current study exploits competition between the soft and harder domains, which teaches on concepts toward well-defined polypeptide-based materials.     

Properties of polyproline II, a secondary structure element implicated in protein-protein interactions

The polyproline II (PPII) conformation of protein backbone is an important secondary structure type. It is unusual in that, due to steric constraints, its main-chain hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors cannot easily be satisfied. It is unable to make local hydrogen bonds, in a manner similar to that of alpha-helices, and it cannot easily satisfy the hydrogen-bonding potential of neighboring residues in polyproline conformation in a manner analogous to beta-strands. Here we describe an analysis of polyproline conformations using the HOMSTRAD database of structurally aligned proteins. This allows us not only to determine amino acid propensities from a much larger database than previously but also to investigate conservation of amino acids in polyproline conformations, and the conservation of the conformation itself. Although proline is common in polyproline helices, helices without proline represent 46% of the total. No other amino acid appears to be greatly preferred; glycine and aromatic amino acids have low propensities for PPII. Accordingly, the hydrogen-bonding potential of PPII main-chain is mainly satisfied by water molecules and by other parts of the main-chain. Side-chain to main-chain interactions are mostly nonlocal. Interestingly, the increased number of nonsatisfied H-bond donors and acceptors (as compared with alpha-helices and beta-strands) makes PPII conformers well suited to take part in protein-protein interactions.     

Structural organization of the fibrin(ogen) alpha C-domain

We hypothesized that the alpha C-domain of human fibrinogen (residues hA alpha 221-610) and of other species consists of a compact COOH-terminal region (hA alpha 392-610) and a flexible NH(2)-terminal connector region (hA alpha 221-391) which may contain some regular structure [Weisel and Medved (2001) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 936, 312-327]. To test this hypothesis, we expressed in E. coli recombinant fragments corresponding to the full-length human alpha C-domain and its NH(2)- and COOH-terminal regions as well as their bovine counterparts, bA alpha 224-568, bA alpha 224-373, and bA alpha 374-568(538), respectively, and tested their folding status by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All three methods revealed heat-induced unfolding transitions in the full-length bA alpha 224-568 and its two COOH-terminal fragments, indicating that the COOH-terminal portion of the bovine alpha C-domain is folded into a compact cooperative structure. Similar results were obtained by CD and DSC with the full-length and the COOH-terminal h392-610 human fragments. The NH(2)-terminal fragments of both species, b224-373 and h221-392, did not exhibit any sign of a compact structure. However, their heat capacity functions, CD spectra, and temperature dependence of ellipticity at 222 nm were typical for peptides in the extended helical poly(L-proline) type II conformation (PPII), suggesting that they contain this type of regular structure. This is consistent with the presence of proline-rich tandem repeats in the sequence of both bovine and human connector regions. These results indicate that both bovine and human fibrinogen alpha C-domains consist of a compact globular cooperative unit attached to the bulk of the molecule by an extended NH(2)-terminal connector region with a PPII conformation.     

Topotactic crystallization of isolated poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) granules from Alcaligenes eutrophus

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray powder diffractometry (WAXD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to investigate the crystallization behavior of PHB granules from Alcaligenes eutrophus isolated by enzymatic purification. TEM examination of freeze dried granules after mortar and pestle grinding at liquid nitrogen temperature revealed that the dry granules have a non-crystalline core/crystalline shell morphology. TEM micrographs sections of PHB granules showed that upon annealing, the non-crystalline molecules in the core transform into stacks of lamellar crystals with a thickness of ∼ 100 Å. The FTIR results revealed the presence of bound water in a sample of freeze dried granules and WAXD of the same sample showed an increase in crystallinity after removal of this water by vacuum drying. The WAXD diffractograms showed an increase in crystallinity of PHB granules when going from the in vivo to the dry state. In spite of the possibility of deforming them at very low temperatures (liquid nitrogen temperature) the glass transition temperature ( T _g ) of nascent PHB granules, as revealed by the DSC thermograms, was in the range −0.5−4°C. These results suggest that water is responsible for keeping the core of nascent PHB granules in a non-crystalline state. A model for biosynthesis where emerging PHB chains in an extended conformation are simultaneously hydrogen bonded to water molecules is proposed.     

The impact of either 4-R-hydroxyproline or 4-R-fluoroproline on the conformation and SH3m-cort binding of HPK1 proline-rich peptide

SH3 domains are probably the most abundant molecular-recognition modules of the proteome. A common feature of these domains is their interaction with ligand proteins containing Pro-rich sequences. Crystal and NMR structures of SH3 domains complexes with Pro-rich peptides show that the peptide ligands are bound over a range of up to seven residues in a PPII helix conformation. Short proline-rich peptides usually adopt little or no ordered secondary structure before binding interactions, and consequently their association with the SH3 domain is characterized by unfavorable binding entropy due to a loss of rotational freedom on forming the PPII helix. With the aim to stabilize the PPII helix conformation into the proline-rich decapeptide PPPLPPKPKF (P2), we replaced some proline residues either with the 4(R)-4-fluoro-l-proline (FPro) or the 4(R)-4-hydroxy-l-proline (Hyp). The interactions of P2 analogues with the SH3 domain of cortactin (SH3_m-cort) were analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy, while CD thermal transition experiments have been used to determine their propensity to adopt a PPII helix conformation. Results show that the introduction of three residues of Hyp efficiently stabilizes the PPII helix conformation, while it does not improve the affinity towards the SH3 domain, suggesting that additional forces, e.g., electrostatic interactions, are involved in the SH3_m-cort substrate recognition.     

Is polyproline II helix the killer conformation? A Raman optical activity study of the amyloidogenic prefibrillar intermediate of human lysozyme

The amyloidogenic prefibrillar partially denatured intermediate of human lysozyme, prepared by heating the native protein to 57 degrees C at pH 2.0, was studied using Raman optical activity (ROA). A positive band in the room temperature ROA spectrum of the native protein at approximately 1345 cm(-1), assigned to a hydrated form of alpha-helix, is not present in that of the prefibrillar intermediate, where a new strong positive band at approximately 1318 cm(-1) appears instead that is assigned to the poly(l-proline) II (PPII)-helical conformation. A sharp negative band at approximately 1241 cm(-1) in the native protein, assigned to beta-strand, shows little change in the ROA spectrum of the prefibrillar intermediate. The disappearance of a positive ROA band at approximately 1551 cm(-1) assigned to vibrations of tryptophan side-chains indicates that major conformational changes have occurred among the five tryptophan residues present in human lysozyme, four of which are located in the alpha-domain. The various ROA data suggest that a substantial loss of tertiary structure has occurred in the prefibrillar intermediate and that this is located more in the alpha-domain than in the beta-domain. There is no evidence for any increase in beta-structure. The ROA spectrum of hen lysozyme, which does not form amyloid fibrils so readily, remains much more native-like on heating to 57 degrees C at pH 2.0. The thermal behaviour of the alanine-rich alpha-helical peptide AK21 in aqueous solution was found to be similar to that of human lysozyme. Hydrated alpha-helix therefore appears to readily undergo a conformational change to PPII structure on heating, which may be a key step in the conversion of alpha-helix into beta-sheet in the formation of amyloid fibrils in human lysozyme. Since it is extended, flexible, lacks intrachain hydrogen bonds and is fully hydrated in aqueous solution, PPII helix has the appropriate characteristics to be implicated as a critical conformational element in many conformational diseases. Disorder of the PPII type may be a sine qua non for the formation of regular fibrils; whereas the more dynamic disorder of the random coil may lead only to amorphous aggregates.     

Host-guest scale of left-handed polyproline II helix formation

Despite the clear importance of the left-handed polyproline II (PPII) helical conformation in many physiologically important processes as well as its potential significance in protein unfolded states, little is known about the physical determinants of this conformation. We present here a scale of relative PPII helix-forming propensities measured for all residues, except tyrosine and tryptophan, in a proline-based host peptide system. Proline has the highest measured propensity in this system, a result of strong steric interactions that occur between adjacent prolyl rings. The other measured propensities are consistent with backbone solvation being an important component in PPII helix formation. Side chain to backbone hydrogen bonding may also play a role in stabilizing this conformation. The PPII helix-forming propensity scale will prove useful in future studies of the conformational properties of proline-rich sequences as well as provide insights into the prevalence of PPII helices in protein unfolded states.     

Conformational features of C-glycosyl compounds: crystal structure and molecular modelling of "methyl C-gentiobioside"

The crystal of "methyl C-gentiobioside" (methyl 8,12-anhydro-6,7-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-gulo-alpha-D-gluco-trideca pyranoside) (C14H26O10) is triclinic, space group P1, with a = 1.0181 (6) nm, b = 0.8093 (5) nm, c = 0.5066 (4) nm, alpha = 96.03 (5) degrees, beta = 99.94 (5) degrees, gamma = 90.85 (5) degrees. The two D-glucose residues have the 4C1 conformation. The orientation of the beta-(1----6) linkage is characterized by torsion angles phi = 55.9 degrees, psi = 175.1 degrees, and omega = -63.9 degrees. The orientation of the primary hydroxyl group at the non-reducing residue is gauche-trans (omega' = -53.6 degrees). There is no intramolecular hydrogen bond. Molecules are held together by a network of hydrogen bonds involving all of the hydroxyl groups. This crystal structure is the first experimental characterization of a "C-disaccharide". Unlike methyl gentiobioside, which has a high level of conformational flexibility, the "C-disaccharide" has a restricted flexibility. Each of the low-energy conformers in vacuo has a value of phi centered about 60 degrees, in agreement with the solid state conformation, and the exo-anomeric effect is no longer predominant.     

Circular dichroism and UV-resonance Raman investigation of the temperature dependence of the conformations of linear and cyclic elastin

We used electronic circular dichroism (CD) and UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy at 204 nm excitation to examine the temperature dependence of conformational changes in cyclic and linear elastin peptides. We utilize CD spectroscopy to study global conformation changes in elastin peptides, while UVRR is utilized to probe the local conformation and hydrogen bonding of Val and Pro peptide bonds. Our results indicate that at 20 degrees C cyclic elastin predominantly populates distorted beta-strand, beta-type II and beta-type III turn conformations. At 60 degrees C, the beta-type II turn population increases, while the distorted beta-strand population decreases. Linear elastin predominantly adopts distorted beta-strand and beta-type III turn conformations with some beta-type II turn population at 20 degrees C. Increasing temperature to 60 degrees C results in a small increase in the turn population.     

Conformational states of a TT mismatch from molecular dynamics simulation of duplex d (CGCGATTCGCG).

The TT mismatch region in duplex d (CGCGATTCGCG) was studied using a 500-ps molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in water, and a series of 1-ps MD simulations and energy minimizations in vacuum. The DNA maintained its duplex structure, although the mismatch region showed significantly higher flexibility than the GC regions. The predominant conformation in the 500-ps MD simulation involved an average -42 degrees propeller twist between T6 and T'6, and a -22 degree buckle between A5 and T'7. One hydrogen bond was formed between T6 and T'6, and another between T6 and the O2 of T'7, with both Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds between A5 and T'7 remaining intact. The minimizations resulted in conformations with the equivalent hydrogen-bonding pattern, as well as ones with "wobble pair" hydrogen bonds between T6 and T'6. However, the wobble pair conformation was found to be unstable in the water simulation.     

Effects of monofunctional platinum binding on the thermal stability and conformation of a self-complementary 22-mer

We investigated the effect of various monofunctional platinum complexes on the thermal stability and conformation of a self-complementary 22-mer duplex oligonucleotide by means of CD and UV melting profiles. We studied several families of triamine complexes of the general formula PtA2AmCl where A2=(NH3)2 and ethylenediamine and where Am=N1-4-methyl-pyridine, N7-guanosine, and 9-ethyl-guanine. Platination by the N1-4-methyl-pyridine and 9-ethyl-guanine complexes led to a decrease in the Tm of the oligonucleotide by 2-11.5 degrees C while platination with the N7-guanosine complexes led to a rise in the melting temperature of the oligonucleotides by 4.5 degrees C. A similar inverse correlation between the two groups of platinum compounds was found in the CD spectra. In all cases, the cis isomer had a more pronounced effect on both the melting curve and the CD spectrum. The cis isomer was found to have a more destabilizing effect than its trans counterpart. This indicates that the cis geometry in fact forces a greater structural constraint on the backbone of the double helix. We have also found that the sugar of the guanosine has a significant influence on both the Tm and CD spectra; the sugar moiety contributes to the stability of the double helix, probably through the formation of hydrogen bonds.