Conformation of a cyclic decapeptide analog of a repeat pentapeptide sequence of elastin: cyclo-bis(valyl-prolyl-alanyl-valyl-glycyl)

The conformation of a cyclic decapeptide analog of a repeat sequence of elastin has been determined in the crystalline state using X-ray crystallographic techniques. Tetragonal crystals were grown from a solution of the decapeptide in water; space group P4(2)2(1)2, a = 19.439(2) & c = 13.602(1) A, with four formula units (C40H66N10O10.4H2O) per unit cell. The cyclic decapeptide in the crystal exhibits exact twofold symmetry. The asymmetric unit contains one pentapeptide and two water molecules for a total of 32 nonhydrogen atoms. The structure has been determined by the application of direct methods and refined by full-matrix least squares to an R index of 0.053 for 2272 reflections with intensities greater than 2 sigma(I). The backbone conformation of the asymmetric pentapeptide can be described as consisting of a double beta bend of Type III-I. The Type III turn has Pro (phi = -59.3 degrees, psi = -26.8 degrees) and Ala (phi = -65.9 degrees, psi = -23.1 degrees) at the corners while Type I turn has Ala (phi = -65.9 degrees, psi = -23.1 degrees) and Val (phi = -98.9 degrees, psi = 8.3 degrees) as the corner residues. The cyclic decapeptide has two such double bends linked together by Gly-Val bridges.     

Peptide crystal growth via vapor diffusion. Crystal structure of glycyl-L-tyrosyl-L-alanine dihydrate.

The structure of a dihydrated form of glycyl-L-tyrosyl-L-alanine (GYA) has been determined as part of a series of peptide structural investigations and development of microscale vapor diffusion experiments for peptide crystal growth. Crystals were grown by the hanging-drop method against sodium acetate. The tripeptide is a zwitterion in the crystal, adopting an extended conformation through glycine, a nearly perpendicular bend at tyrosine and a reverse turn for the C-terminal carboxylate. Principal backbone torsion angles are psi 1 175(1) degrees, omega 2 173(1) degrees, phi 2 -119(1) degrees, psi 2 120(1) degrees, omega 3 172(1) degrees, phi 3 -73(1) degrees, psi 31 -9(1) degrees, psi 32 171(1) degrees. The tyrosyl side chain adopts an unusual orientation (chi 1/2 = -86(1) degrees). The relationship of the GYA.2H2O structure to GYA sequences in proteins is examined, particularly as regards its helix-forming potential. Crystal data: C14H19N3O4.2H2O, M(r) = 345.36, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 4.810 (4), b = 11.400(7), c = 30.162(23)A, V = 1653.8(24)A-3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.387 Mgm-3, lambda(CuK- alpha) = 1.540 A, mu = 9.053 mm-1, F(000) = 736, T = 199 K, R = 0.041 for 1458 observations with I greater than or equal to 3 sigma(I).     

The crystal structure of the alpha-cellobiose.2 NaI.2 H(2)O complex in the context of related structures and conformational analysis

The crystal structure of beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-D-glucopyranose (alpha-cellobiose) in a complex with water and NaI was determined with Mo K(alpha) radiation at 150 K to R=0.027. The space group is P2(1) and unit cell dimensions are a=9.0188, b=12.2536, c=10.9016 A, beta=97.162 degrees. There are no direct hydrogen bonds among cellobiose molecules, and the usual intramolecular hydrogen bond between O-3 and O-5' is replaced by a bridge involving Na+, O-3, O-5', and O-6'. Both Na+ have sixfold coordination. One I(-) accepts six donor hydroxyl groups and three C-H***I(-) hydrogen bonds. The other accepts three hydroxyls, one Na+, and five C-H***I(-) hydrogen bonds. Linkage torsion angles phi(O-5) and psi(C-5) are -73.6 and -105.3 degrees, respectively (phi(H)=47.1 degrees and psi(H)=14.6 degrees ), probably induced by the Na+ bridge. This conformation is in a separate cluster in phi,psi space from most similar linkages. Both C-6-O-H and C-6'-O-H are gg, while the C-6'-O-H groups from molecules not in the cluster have gt conformations. Hybrid molecular mechanics/quantum mechanics calculations show <1.2 kcal/mol strain for any of the small-molecule structures. Extrapolation of the NaI cellobiose geometry to a cellulose molecule gives a left-handed helix with 2.9 residues per turn. The energy map and small-molecule crystal structures imply that cellulose helices having 2.5 and 3.0 residues per turn are left-handed.     

Crystal structure of tert.-butyloxycarbonyl-L-prolyl-D-alanyl-D-alanyl-N-methylamide. Dimeric beta-sheet formation.

The crystal structure of the tripeptide t-Boc-L-Pro-D-Ala-D-Ala-NHCH3, monohydrate, (C17H30N4O5.H2O, molecular weight = 404.44) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 9.2585(4), b = 9.3541(5), c = 12.4529(4)A, beta = 96.449(3) degrees, Z = 2. The peptide units are in the trans and the tBoc-Pro bond in the cis orientation. The first and third peptide units show significant deviations from planarity (delta omega = 5.2 degrees and delta omega = 3.7 degrees, respectively). The backbone torsion angles are: phi 1 = -60 degrees, psi 1 = 143.3 degrees, omega 1 = -174.8 degrees, phi 2 = 148.4 degrees, psi 2 = -143.1 degrees, omega 2 = -179.7 degrees, phi 3 = 151.4 degrees, psi 3 = -151.9 degrees, omega 3 = -176.3 degrees. The pyrrolidine ring of the proline residue adopts the C2-C gamma conformation. The molecular packing gives rise to an antiparallel beta-sheet structure formed of dimeric repeating units of the peptide. The surface of the dimeric beta-sheet is hydrophobic. Water molecules are found systematically at the edges of the sheets interacting with the urethane oxygen and terminal amino groups. Surface catalysis of an L-Ala to D-Ala epimerization process by water molecules adsorbed on to an incipient beta-sheet is suggested as a mechanism whereby crystals of the title peptide were obtained from a solution of tBoc-Pro-D-Ala-Ala-NHCH3.     

Structure and conformation of linear peptides. XII. Structure of tryptophanyl-glycyl-glycine dihydrate

The crystal structure of a tripeptide, tryptophanyl-glycyl-glycine dihydrate (C15H18N4O4.2H2O, molecular weight = 354) has been determined. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 7.875 (1) A, b = 9.009(1), c = 24.307(1) and Z = 4. The final R-index is 0.058 for 1488 reflections [sin theta)/lambda less than or equal to 0.6 A-1) with I greater than 2 sigma (I). The molecule exists as a zwitterion, with terminal NH3+ and COO- groups. The peptide units are trans and nearly perpendicular to the plane of the carboxyl group. The backbone torsion angles are: psi 1 = 132.7 degrees, omega 1 = 174.2 degrees, phi 2 = 88.2 degrees, psi 2 = 8.6 degrees, omega 2 = -179.8 degrees, phi 3 = -85.2 degrees, psi 31 = -178.1 degrees, psi 32 = 5.0 degrees. For the sidechain of tryptophan, chi 1 = -171.6 degrees, chi 2 = 101.0 degrees.     

A sequence preference for nucleation of alpha-helix--crystal structure of Gly-L-Ala-L-Val and Gly-L-Ala-L-Leu: some comments on the geometry of leucine zippers

The synthetic peptide Gly-L-Ala-L-Val (C10H19N3O4.3H2O; GAV) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21, with a = 8.052(2), b = 6.032(2), c = 15.779(7) A, beta = 98.520(1) degree, V = 757.8 A3, Dx = 1.312 g cm-3, and Z = 2. The peptide Gly-L-Ala-L-Leu (C11H21N3O4.3H2O; GAL) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with a = 6.024(1), b = 8.171(1), c = 32.791(1) A, V = 1614 A3, Dx = 1.289 g cm-3, and Z = 4. Their crystal structures were solved by direct methods using the program SHELXS-86, and refined to an R index of 0.05 for 1489 reflections for GAV and to an R index of 0.05 for 1563 reflections for GAL. The tripeptides exist as a zwitterion in the crystal and assume a near alpha-helical backbone conformation with the following torsion angles: psi 1 = -150.7 degrees; phi 2, psi 2 = -68.7 degrees, -38.1 degrees; phi 3, psi 32 = -74.8 degrees, -44.9 degrees, 135.9 degrees for GAV; psi 1 = -150.3 degrees; phi 2, psi 2 = -67.7 degrees, -38.9 degrees; phi 3, psi 31, psi 32 = -72.2 degrees, -45.3 degrees, 137.5 degrees for GAL. Both the peptide units in both of the tripeptides show significant deviation from planarity [omega 1 = -171.3(6) degrees and omega 2 = -172.0(6) degrees for GAV; omega 1 = -171.9(5) degrees and omega 2 = -173.2(6) degrees for GAL]. The side-chain conformational angles chi 21 and chi 22 are -61.7(5) degrees and 175.7(5) degrees, respectively, for valine, and the side-chain conformations chi 12 and chi 23's are -68.5(5) degrees and (-78.4(6) degrees, 159.10(5) degrees) respectively, for leucine. Each of the tripeptide molecule is held in a near helical conformation by a water molecule that bridges the NH3+ and COO- groups, and acts as the fourth residue needed to complete the turn by forming two hydrogen bonds. Two other water molecules form intermolecular hydrogen bonds in stabilizing the helical structure so that the end result is a column of molecules that looks like an alpha-helix.     

Structure and conformation of linear peptides. XIII. Structure of L-phenylalanyl-glycyl-glycine

The crystal structure of a tripeptide, L-phenylalanyl-glycyl-glycine (C13H17N3O4), molecular weight = 279.3, has been determined. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 5.462(1) A, b = 15.285(5), c = 16.056(4), Z = 4, and P (calc) = 1.384 g.cm-3. The final R-index is 0.052 for 866 reflections with sin theta/lambda less than or equal to 0.55 A-1 and I greater than 1 sigma. The molecule exists as a zwitterion, with the N-terminus protonated and the C-terminus in an ionized form. Both the peptide units are in the trans configuration and planar, though one of them shows significant deviations from planarity ([delta w[ = 5.1 degrees). The peptide backbone is folded, with the torsion angles of: psi 1 = 116.2(5) degrees, omega 1 = 178.8(4), phi 2 = -89.7(5). psi 2 = -28.9(6), omega 2 = -174.9(4), phi 3 = 134.9(5), psi 31 = 7.8(6), psi 32 = -172.6(4). The terminal glycine adopts a "D-residue" conformation. For the sidechain of phenylalanine, chi 1 = 175.5(4), chi 2 = -127.0(6).     

Crystal-state structural analysis of two gamma-lactam-restricted analogs of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2

The crystal structures of two analogs of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (1), containing a gamma-lactam conformational constraint in place of the -Leu-Gly- sequences, are described. The highly biologically active (S,R)-diastereomer 2a is semi-extended at the C-terminus, with the N-terminal Pro residue in the unusual "C5" conformation [psi 1 = -0.8(15) degrees] stabilized by a (peptide)N-H...N(amino) intramolecular H-bond [the N(3)...N(4) separation is 2.687(11)A]. Conversely, the N,N'-isopropylidene aminal trihydrate of the (S,S)-diastereomer 2b, compound 3, adopts a beta-bend conformation at the C-terminus, as already reported for 1. However, the backbone torsion angles [phi 2 = 57.4(4), psi 2 = -129.9(3) degrees; psi 3 = -92.3(4), phi 3 = 6.4(5) degrees] lie close to the values expected for the corner residues of an ideal type-II' beta-bend. A weak intramolecular 4----1 H-bond is seen between the Gly carboxyamide anti-NH and Pro C = O groups. In the newly formed 2,2,3,4-tetraalkyl-5-oxo-imidazolidin-1-yl moiety the psi 1 torsion angle is 12.9(4) degrees and the intramolecular N(3)...N(4) separation is 2.321(4)A.     

Designing of peptides with left handed helical structure by incorporating the unusual amino acids

The conformational behaviour of delta Ala has been investigated by quantum mechanical method PCILO in the model dipeptide Ac-delta Ala-NHMe and in the model tripeptides Ac-X-delta Ala-NHMe with X = Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Abu and Phe and is found to be quite different. The computational results suggest that in the model tripeptides the most stable conformation corresponds to phi 1 = -30 degrees, psi 1 = 120 degrees and phi 2 = psi 2 = 30 degrees in which the > C = 0 of the acetyl group is involved in hydrogen bond formation with N-H of the amide group. Similar results were obtained for the conformational behaviour of D-Ala in Ac-D-Ala-NHMe and Ac-Ala-D-Ala-NHMe. The conformational behaviour of the amino acids delta Ala, D-Ala, Val and Aib in model tripeptides have been utilized in the designing of left handed helical peptides. It is shown that the peptide HCO-(Ala-D-Ala)3-NHMe can adopt both left and right handed helix whereas in the peptide Ac-(Ala-delta Ala)3-NHMe the lowest energy conformer is beta-bend ribbon structure. Left handed helical structure with phi = 30 degrees, psi = 60 degrees for D-Ala residues and phi = psi = 30 degrees for delta Ala is found to be more stable by 4 kcal mole-1 than the corresponding right handed helical structure for the peptide Ac-(D-Ala-delta Ala)3-NHMe. In both the peptides Ac-(Val-delta Ala)3-NHMe and Ac-(D-Val-delta Ala)3-NHMe the most stable conformer is the left handed helix. Comparisons of results for Ac-(Ala-delta Ala)3-NHMe and Ac(Val-delta Ala)3-NHMe and Ac-(D-Ala-delta Ala)3-NHMe and Ac-(D-Val-delta Ala)3-NHMe also reveal that the Val residues facilitate the population of 3(10) left handed helix over the other conformers. It is also shown that the conformational behaviour of Aib residue depends on the chirality of neighbouring amino acids, i.e. Ac-(Aib-Ala)3-NHMe adopts right handed helical structure whereas Ac-(Aib-D-Ala)3-NHMe is found to be in left handed helical structure.     

Conformational study of peptides containing dehydrophenylalanine: helical structures without hydrogen bond

The conformational behaviour of deltaZPhe has been investigated in the model dipeptide Ac-deltaZPhe-NHMe and in the model tripeptides Ac-X-deltaZPhe-NHMe with X=Gly,Ala,Val,Leu,Abu,Aib and Phe and is found to be quite different. In the model tripeptides with X=Ala,Val,Leu,Abu,Phe the most stable structure corresponds to phi1=-30 degrees, psi1=120 degrees and phi2=psi2=30 degrees. This structure is stabilized by the hydrogen bond formation between C=O of acetyl group and the NH of the amide group, resulting in the formation of a 10-membered ring but not a 3(10) helical structure. In the peptides Ac-Aib-deltaZPhe-NHMe and Ac-(Aib-deltaZPhe)3-NHMe, the helical conformers with phi = +/-30 degrees, psi = +/-60 degrees for Aib residue and phi=psi= +/-30 degrees for deltaZPhe are predicted to be most stable. The computational studies for the positional preferences of deltaZPhe residue in the peptide containing one deltaZPhe and nine Ala residues reveal the formation of a 3(10) helical structure in all the cases with terminal preferences for deltaZPhe. The conformational behaviour of Ac-(deltaZPhe)n-NHMe with n< or =4 is predicted to be very labile. With n > 4, degenerate conformational states with phi,psi values of 0 degrees +/- 90 degrees adopt helical structures which are stabilized by carbonyl-carbonyl interactions and the N-H-pi interactions between the amino group of every deltaZPhe residue with one C-C edge of its own phenyl ring. The results are in agreement with the experimental finding that screw sense of helix for peptides containing deltaZPhe residues is ambiguous in solution. The helical structures stabilized by hydrogen bond formation are found to be at least 3kCalmol(-1) less stable. Conformational studies have also been carried out for the peptide Ac-(deltaEPhe)6-NHMe and the peptide Ac-deltaAla-(deltaZPhe)6-NHMe containing deltaAla residue at the N-terminal. The N-H-pi interactions are absent in peptide Ac-(deltaEPhe)6-NHMe.     

Empirical torsional potential functions from protein structure data. Phi- and psi-potentials for non-glycyl amino acid residues.

The torsional potential functions Vt(phi) and Vt(psi) around single bonds N--C alpha and C alpha--C, which can be used in conformational studies of oligopeptides, polypeptides and proteins, have been derived, using crystal structure data of 22 globular proteins, fitting the observed distribution in the (phi, psi)-plane with the value of Vtot(phi, psi), using the Boltzmann distribution. The averaged torsional potential functions, obtained from various amino acid residues in L-configuration, are Vt(phi) = 1.0 cos (phi + 60 degrees); Vt(psi) = 0.5 cos (psi + 60 degrees) - 1.0 cos (2 psi + 30 degrees) - 0.5 cos (3 psi + 30 degrees). The dipeptide energy maps Vtot(phi, psi) obtained using these functions, instead of the normally accepted torsional functions, were found to explain various observations, such as the absence of the left-handed alpha helix and the C7 conformation, and the relatively high density of points near the line psi = 0 degrees. These functions derived from observational data on protein structures, will, it is hoped, explain various previously unexplained facts in polypeptide conformation.     

Role of water molecules in the crystal structure of gly-L-ala-L-phe: A possible sequence preference for nucleation of α-helix?

The synthetic peptide Gly-L-Ala-L-Phe (C14H19N3O4.2H2O; GAF) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2I1), with a = 5.879(1), b = 7.966(1), c = 17.754(2) A, beta = 95.14(2) degrees, Dx = 1.321 g cm-3, and Z = 2. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods using the program SHELXS-86 and refined to an R value of 0.031 for 1425 reflections (greater than 3 sigma). The tripeptide exists as a zwitterion in the crystal and assumes a near alpha-helical backbone conformation with the following torsion angles: psi 1 = -147.8 degrees; phi 2, psi 2 = -71.2 degrees, 33.4 degrees; phi 3, psi 3 = -78.3 degrees, -43.3 degrees. In this structure, one water molecule bridges the COO- and NH3+ terminii to complete a turn of an alpha-helix and another water molecule participates in head-to-tail intermolecular hydrogen bonding, so that the end result is a column of molecules that looks like an alpha-helix. Thus, the two water molecules of crystallization play a major role in stabilizing the near alpha-helical conformation of each tripeptide molecule and in elongating the helix throughout the crystal. An analysis of all protein sequences around regions containing a GAF fragment by Chou-Fasman's secondary structure prediction method showed that those regions are likely to assume an alpha-helical conformation with twice the probability they are likely to adopt a beta-sheet conformation. It is conceivable that a GAF fragment may be a good part of the nucleation site for forming alpha-helical fragments in a polypeptide, with the aqueous medium playing a crucial role in maintaining such transient species.     

Structure and conformation of linear peptides. VIII. Structure of t-Boc-glycyl-L-phenylalanine

The crystal structure of t-Boc-glycyl-L-phenylalanine (C14H22N2O5, molecular weight = 298) has been determined. Crystals are monoclinic, space group P2(1), with a = 7.599(1) A, b = 9.576(2), c = 12.841(2), beta = 97.21(1) degrees, Z = 2, Dm = 1.149, Dc = 1.168 g X cm-3. Trial structure was obtained by direct methods and refined to a final R-index of 0.064 for 1465 reflections with I greater than 1 sigma. The peptide unit is trans planar and is nearly perpendicular to the plane containing the urethane moiety. The plane of the carboxyl group makes a dihedral angle of 16.0 degrees with the peptide unit. The backbone torsion angles are omega 0 = -176.9 degrees, phi 1 = -88.0 degrees, psi 1 = -14.5 degrees, omega 1 = 176.4 degrees, phi 2 = -164.7 degrees and psi 2 = 170.3 degrees. The phenylalanine side chain conformation is represented by the torsion angles chi 1 = 52.0 degrees, chi 2 = 85.8 degrees.     

Conformational studies of cyclic tetrapeptides. Evidence for a bis gamma-turn conformation for chlamydocin and Ala4-chlamydocin in nonpolar solvents

The conformations of chlamydocin and cyclo (Ala-Aib-Phe-D-Pro) (Ala4-chlamydocin) in chloroform have been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The data obtained from these experiments establish an all transoid, bis gamma-turn conformation for both compounds in chloroform with the following torsional angles (+/- 20 degrees): Ala4-chlamydocin: Aib, phi + 60 degrees, psi - 50 degrees; omega + 160 degrees; Phe phi - 120 degrees, psi + 120 degrees, omega - 160 degrees; D-Pro phi + 60 degrees, psi - 55 degrees, omega + 160 degrees; Ala phi - 110 degrees, psi + 110 degrees, omega - 160 degrees. Chlamydocin adopts a closely related conformation in neat chloroform. Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE) data are utilized to assign amide bond geometries in the cyclic tetrapeptide ring system.     

Design of peptides with branched beta-carbon dehydro-residues: syntheses, crystal structures and molecular conformations of two peptides, (I) N-Carbobenzoxy-DeltaVal-Ala-Leu-OCH3 and (II) N-Carbobenzoxy-DeltaIle-Ala-Leu-OCH3.

Highly specific structures can be designed by inserting dehydro-residues into peptide sequences. The conformational preferences of branched beta-carbon residues are known to be different from other residues. As an implication it was expected that the branched beta-carbon dehydro-residues would also induce different conformations when substituted in peptides. So far, the design of peptides with branched beta-carbon dehydro-residues at (i + 1) position has not been reported. It may be recalled that the nonbranched beta-carbon residues induced beta-turn II conformation when placed at (i + 2) position while branched beta-carbon residues induced beta-turn III conformation. However, the conformation of a peptide with a nonbranched beta-carbon residue when placed at (i + 1) position was not found to be unique as it depended on the stereochemical nature of its neighbouring residues. Therefore, in order to induce predictably unique structures with dehydro-residues at (i + 1) position, we have introduced branched beta-carbon dehydro-residues instead of nonbranched beta-carbon residues and synthesized two peptides: (I) N-Carbobenzoxy-DeltaVal-Ala-Leu-OCH3 and (II) N-Carbobenzoxy-DeltaIle-Ala-Leu-OCH3 with DeltaVal and DeltaIle, respectively. The crystal structures of peptides (I) and (II) have been determined and refined to R-factors of 0.065 and 0.063, respectively. The structures of both peptides were essentially similar. Both peptides adopted type II beta-turn conformations with torsion angles; (I): phi1 = -38.7 (4) degrees, psi1 = 126.0 (3) degrees; phi2 = 91.6 (3) degrees, psi2 = -9.5 (4) degrees and (II): phi1 = -37.0 (6) degrees, psi1 = 123.6 (4) degrees, phi2 = 93.4 (4), psi2 = -11.0(4) degrees respectively. Both peptide structures were stabilized by intramolecular 4-->1 hydrogen bonds. The molecular packing in both crystal structures were stabilized in each by two identical hydrogen bonds N1...O1' (-x, y + 1/2, -z) and N2...O2' (-x + 1, y + 1/2, -z) and van der Waals interactions.     

Solution conformation on bovine growth hormone releasing factor by 1H NMR and molecular modeling.

The structure of bovine growth hormone releasing factor (bGHRF) consisting of 44 amino acids has been studied in CD and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular modeling. Since bGHRF does not have an ordered structure in water alone, a 30% 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) aqueous solvent was used to induce considerable alpha-helical structures, which corresponds to a helical content of approximately 62% as determined by circular dichroism (CD). The secondary structure was obtained from nuclear Overhauser enhancement and 3J(HN alpha) coupling constant in 30% TFE solution. Three-dimensional structures consistent with NMR data were generated by using distance geometry calculation. A set of 267 interproton distances derived from nuclear Overhauser effect correlation spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments and coupling constants were used. From the initial random conformations, 50 distance geometry structures with minimal violations were selected for further refinement. The 14 best structures were obtained after simulated annealing calculation with energy minimization. The structure of bGHRF in 30% TFE solution was characterized by one alpha-helix (residues 8-19), two poorly constrained helices (residues 23-27 and residues 31-34) and a beta I(III)-turn fragment (residues 20-23; phi(i+1) = -53.1 degrees, psi(i+1) = -19.6 degrees, phi(i+2) = -59.9 degrees, psi(i+2) = -20.6 degrees) connected by the segments of less defined structures in N-terminal and omega-shaped flexible C-terminal determined from NOESY cross peaks between helical segment (residues 14-18) and tail fragment (residues 42-44). The obtained structure will play an important role toward the understanding of the structural and functional role of the GHRF.     

Conformational investigation of alpha, beta-dehydropeptides. Part III. Molecular and crystal structure of acetyl-L-prolyl-alpha, beta-dehydrovaline methylamide.

The crystal structure of Ac-Pro-delta Val-NHCH3 was examined to determine the influence of the alpha,beta-dehydrovaline residue on the nature of peptide conformation. The peptide crystallizes from methanol-diethyl ether solution at 4 degrees in needle-shaped form in orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 11.384(2) A, b = 13.277(2) A, c = 9.942(1) A, V = 1502.7(4) A3, Z = 4, Dm = 1.17 g.cm-3 and Dc = 1.18 g.cm-3. The structure was solved by direct methods using SHELXS-86 and refined to an R value of 0.057 for 1922 observed reflections. The peptide is found to adopt a beta-bend between the type I and the type III conformation with phi 1 = -68.3(4) degrees, psi 1 = -20.1(4) degrees, phi 2 = -73.5(4) degrees and psi 2 = -14.1(4) degrees. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen of ith residue and the NH of (i + 3)th residue stabilizes the beta-bend. An additional intermolecular N...O hydrogen bond joins molecules into infinite chains. In the literature described crystal structures of peptides having a single alpha,beta-dehydroamino acid residue in the (i + 2) position and forming a beta-bend reveal a type II conformation.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and molecular conformation of N-Ac-dehydro-Phe-L-Val-L-Val-OCH3.

The peptide N-Ac-dehydro-Phe-L-Val-L-Val-OCH3 (C22H31N3O5) was synthesized by the usual workup procedure and finally by coupling the N-Ac-dehydro-Phe-L-Val-OH to valine methyl ester. It was crystallized from its solution in acetonitrile-water mixture at 4 degrees C. The crystals belong to the space group P1 with a = 8.900(3) A, b = 11.135(2) A, c = 12.918(2) A, alpha = 90.36(1) degrees, beta = 110.14(3) 14(3) degrees, V = 1207.7(6) A, 3Z = 2, dm = 1.156(5) Mgm-3, dc = 1.148(5) Mgm-3. The structure was determined by direct methods using SHELXS86. The structure was refined by full-matrix least-squares procedure to an R value of 0.077 for 3916 observed reflections. The molecular dimensions and conformations of the two crystallographically independent molecules are in good agreement. In the dehydro residues, the average C alpha-C beta distance is 1.31(2) A whereas the bond angle C alpha-C beta-C gamma is 132(1) degrees. The average backbone torsion angles are omega 0 = 169(1) degrees, phi 1 = -40(1) degree, psi 1 = -50(1) degree, omega 1 = -177(1) degree, phi 2 = 54(1) degree, psi 2 = 46(1) degree, omega 2 = -174(1) degree, phi 3 = 103(1) degree, psi T3 = -139(1) degree, and theta T3 = -176(1) degree. The acetyl group is in the trans conformation, while the backbone adopts a right-handed and left-handed helical conformation alternatingly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tripeptides with ionizable side chains adopt a perturbed polyproline II structure in water

The present paper reports the conformations of the acidic and basic homotripeptides triglutamate, triaspartate, and trilysine in aqueous solution to better understand their relevance for the structure of disordered proteins and protein segments and for a variety of protein binding processes. The determination of the dihedral angles of the central amino acid residue was achieved by analyzing the amide I band profile of the respective polarized visible Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra by means of recently developed algorithms [Schweitzer-Stenner, R. (2002) Biophys. J. 83, 523-532; Eker et al. (2002) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124, 523-532]. The results were validated by measuring the UV electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of the peptides. The analyses revealed that a polyproline II-like conformation is predominant at room temperature. For triaspartate and triglutamate the dihedral angles of phi = -70 degrees, psi = 165 degrees and phi = -60 degrees, psi = 160 degrees were obtained, respectively. A similar conformation, i.e., phi = -50 degrees, psi = 170 degrees, was obtained for trilysine, which is at variance with the earlier reported left-handed turn structure. The ECD spectrum of charged tripeptides displayed symmetric negative and positive couplets at 190 and 210 nm, which are interpreted as indicating a somewhat, perturbed polyproline II conformation, in agreement with the obtained dihedral angles. Comparison with literature data shows that the investigated tripeptides are ideal model systems for understanding the local conformation of functionally relevant K3, K2X, E3, and D3 segments in a variety of different proteins.