Solvent and side-chain contributions to the two-cis ⇄ all-trans equilibria of cyclic hexapeptides,cyclo(Xxx-Pro-D-Yyy)2

Cyclic hexapeptides of the type cyclo(L -Xxx-L -Pro-D -Yyy)₂ or cyclo(L -Xxx-L -Pro-Gly)₂ exist in solution predominantly in two forms of C₂ average symmetry, one with all-trans peptide bonds and generally well-established conformation, and another with both Xxx-Pro peptide bonds cis. We have been measuring the thermodynamic parameters of this equilibrium using carbon and proton nmr spectroscopy. Data have been obtained for peptides in which Yyy = Gly, D -Ala, or D -Phe, and Xxx = Gly, L -Ala, L -Leu, and L -Val. In a given solvent, stability of the all-trans form decreases (ΔG⁰ increases) as Xxx is changed through the series Gly, L -Ala-, L -Leu, and L -Val, consistent with expected increasing repulsion between the Xxx side chain and the proline δ methylene across the trnas Xxx-Pro bond. Also, for a given set of side chains, the stability of the all-trnas form increases as the polarity of the solvent decreases, consistent with models in which all C?O and N? H groups are accessible for solvation in the two-cis form, but two C?O and two N? H groups are somewhat sequestered in the all-trans form. With the available data it is not possible to identify pure intramolecular (solvent-independent) or pure peptide-bond solvation (side chain-independent) terms in ΔH° or ΔS°, although trends are discernible.     

Cyclo(D-Pro-L-Pro-D-Pro-L-Pro): Structural properties and cis/trans isomerization of the cyclotetrapeptide backbone

Combinations of L - and D -proline residues are useful compounds for finding new structures and properties of cyclic peptides. This is demonstrated with one striking example, the cyclic tetrapeptide c(D -Pro-L -Pro-D -Pro-L -Pro). For this molecule composed of strictly alternating D - and L -configurated residues, a highly symmetrical structure is expected, which should be an optically inactive meso-form. Cyclization of the enantiomeric pure linear precursor D -Pro-L -Pro-D -Pro-L -Pro, however, yields a racemic mixture of two enantiomeric cyclotetrapeptides, both with twofold symmetry and a cis–trans–cis–trans sequence of the peptide bonds. Remarkably, this formation of a racemate was not caused by racemization, but by cis/trans isomerization of all peptide bonds in the ring. This process may occur in the linear precursor during the ring formation (cyclization of conformers with trans–cis–trans or cis–trans–cis arrangement of the amide bonds) as well as in the enantiomeric pure cyclic tetrapeptide at higher temperature. In the latter case, an all-cis structure should exist as the intermediate, which can form a cis–trans–cis–trans sequence in two equivalent ways, leading finally to two enantiomeric cyclotetrapeptides. In the first one, the cis peptide bonds are attributed to the L -residues and the trans peptide bonds to the D -residues; in the second one, the cis bonds belong to the D and the trans bonds to the L -residues. The mixture of these two enantiomers does not crystallize in the racemic form, but in enantiomeric pure separate crystals. The structural properties could be proved by ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectroscopy and x-ray analysis. The cis/trans isomerization process was confirmed by optical rotation measurements and CD spectroscopy, as well as DREIDING model studies. Calorimetric measurements in the solid state suggest the existence of the expected all-cis intermediate. The backbone conformation of the 12-membered medium-sized ring shows only slight deviations—up to 6° —from the planarity of the peptide bonds. On the other hand, the four pyrrolidine rings show different types of puckering of the C_γ or the C_β atoms.     

Studies on cyclic peptides. III. The specific interaction of cyclic peptides with benzene and an application of the solvent-induced Nmr shift to the conformational analysis of cyclo-(Pro-Sar-Gly).

The interaction between cyclic peptides [cyclo-(Sar₄), cyclo-(Pro-Sar-Gly)₂, cyclo-(Sar-Sar), and cyclo-(Sar-Gly)] with benzene has been investigated by nmr spectroscopy. The experiment with cyclo-(Sar₄) showed that benzene interacted preferentially with the trans peptide bond in a similar manner to the dimethylformamide–benzene interaction. The solvent-induced nmr shift was then applied to the conformational analysis of cyclo-(Pro-Sar-Gly)₂ with the aid of the molecular model. The major conformation was proved to possess the C₂ symmetry with internally hydrogen-bonded glycine residues, in which all peptide bonds were trans. The interaction of cyclo-(Sar-Sar) and cyclo-(Sar-Gly) with benzene was also studied. The association constant was 0.115-kg solution per mole of cyclo-(Sar-Sar) and 0.089-kg solution per mole of cyclo-(Sar-Gly) in chloroform.     

Conformational analysis of thyrotropin releasing factor by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The proton magnetic resonance spectrum of thyrotropin releasing factor (TRF) in solution in deuterium oxide and deuterated dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO–d₆) has been analyzed. Two forms differing in cis–trans isomerism about the His-Pro peptide bond are observed. From the temperature dependence of chemical shift of the amide protons, it is concluded that TRF in DMSO–d₆ does not contain intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Measurement of NH? C_αH coupling constant provides an estimate of the histidine dihedral angle ?. Structural information about the histidine side-chain is deduced from C_αH? C_βH coupling constants and from the nonequivalence of the two prolyl δ-protons. In DMSO–d₆, there is evidence for a tautomeric equilibrium corresponding to an exchange of imidazole proton between the two nitrogen atoms N-δ and N-ε. In water, the N-εH tautomer is found to be the predominant tautomeric form of the imidazole ring. These results in combination with energy calculation, vibrational analysis, and carbon nmr studies allow the determination of the conformationof TRF.     

Structural investigation of poly-L,D-proline, a synthetic ion channel across bilayer membranes: crystal structure and molecular conformation of two tetra-D,L-proline derivatives

The crystal structures and molecular conformations of two tetraproline derivatives with alternating configurations Boc(D -Pro,L -Pro)₂OH and Boc(D -Pro,L -Pro)₂OCH₃ are investigated in connection with the ability of the homologous polymer to selectively increase (as an ion channel) the ion permeability across bilayer membranes. Both tetramers are characterized by the cis-trans alternating conformation of the peptide bonds, which formally transforms in a turn of the poly-D ,L -proline channel after a cis-trans change of the central peptide residue.     

Flexibility of the pyrrolidine ring in proline peptides

A survey of over 50 crystal structures indicates that both imino acid and peptide derivatives of proline populate ring conformers consistent with the torsional potentials about single bonds. In both cases, lower barriers for rotation about C? N bonds relative to those about C? C bonds favor smaller values for dihedral angles about the former bonds. In peptides a minimum in the torsional potential about C? N bonds occurs at zero dihedral angle, further favoring small angles. The pyrrolidine-ring dihedral angles of the proline compounds in the solid state obey a cyclopentane-type pseudorotation function. Thus the puckering of the five-membered ring can be quantitatively described by two parameters. Consistent with small dihedral angles about C? N bonds, C^β and/or C^γ are puckered out of the mean plane of the ring in nearly all of the nonstrained compounds. Utilizing the consistent force-field method of Lifson and coworkers [see A. Warshel, M. Levitt, and S. Lifson (1970) J. Mol. Spectrosc. 33 , 84] the intramolecular energy of five proline peptides was minimized with respect to all internal coordinates. In addition, the energy surface near minima was explored by constraining a particular dihedral angle and reminimizing the energy with respect to all remaining variables. In linear peptides two types of pyrrolidine-ring conformers have identical predicted energies. In the cyclic dipeptide cyclo (Pro-Gly) one of the ring conformers is favored by about 3 kcal/mol, while the cyclic tripeptide cyclo(Pro-Gly-Gly) favors the other conformer by a comparable margin. In agreement with observations in the solid state and in solution, C^β and/or C^γ are puckered in the predicted conformers. A correlation between proline Φ and the details of the puckered conformation was predicted and found to match precisely conformers observed in crystals. For the diamides N-acetyl-L -proline-N′-methyl-amide and N-acetyl-L -proline-N′,N′-dimethylamide (AcProMe₂A) 30% and 60% cis acetyl peptide bonds were predicted in good agreement with observations in nonpolar solvents for the respective compounds. The conformational distributions with respect to proline Ψ are also in accord with experimental observations. For AcProMe₂A, a model for a -Pro-Pro-sequence in a peptide chain, this study is the first to predict stable conformers for proline Ψ either ca. ?50° or 140° for both cis and trans peptides.     

13C- and 1H-nmr evidence for all-cis peptide bonds in cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(L-Pro-Sar)2

Conformations of the cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(L -Pro-Sar)₂ in solution were studied by ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectrometry and model building. The nmr data provide definite evidence that this cyclic peptide exists chiefly in two conformations, namely, a C₂-symmetric conformation and an asymmetric structure. The former was demonstrated to be predominant in polar solvents (100% in Me₂SO-d₆). This structure contains all cis-peptide bond linkages and all trans′ Pro C^α?CO bonds. It represents the first cyclic tetrapeptide in which all four peptide bonds have been found in the cis-conformation. As the polarity of the solvent decreases, the population of C₂-symmetric conformers decreases (88% in CD₃CN and 65% in CDCl₃). At the same time, a minor asymmetric conformer, characterized by cis-cis-cis-trans peptide bond sequences (two cis Sar-Pro bonds, one cis Pro-Sar bond, and one trans Pro-Sar bond), is seen to increase (9% in CD₃CN and 30% in CDCl₃). A proposed predominant conformation in solution for cyclo(L -Pro-Sar)₂ was compared with a crystal structure, as reported in an accompanying paper. Both structures show striking overall similarities.     

The X-Pro peptide bond as an nmr probe for conformational studies of flexible linear peptides

The equilibrium between the cis and trans forms of X-Pro peptide bonds can readily be measured in the ¹³C nmr spectra. In the present paper we investigate how observation of this equilibrium could be used as an nmr probe for conformational studies of flexible polypeptide chains. The experiments include studies by ¹³C nmr of a series of linear oligopeptides containing different X-L -Pro peptide bonds, with X = Gly, L -Ala, L -Leu, L -Phe, D -Ala, D -Leu, and D -Phe. Overall the study confirms that X-Pro peptide bonds can generally be useful as ¹³C nmr probes reporting the formation of nonrandom conformation in flexible polypeptide chains. It was found that the cis–trans equilibrium of X-Pro is greatly affected by the side chain of X and the configuration of the α-carbon atom of X. On the basis of these observations some general rules are suggested for a practical applications of the X-Pro nmr probes in conformational studies of polypeptide chains.     

Nmr and computer-aided studies of the three interchanging stereoisomers of the cyclic hexapeptide cyclo[-Pro1-Gly2-Glu3(OBzl)-Pro4-Phe5-Leu6-]: Unexpected observation of a cis isomer of a secondary amide peptide bond in the presence of two trans proline peptide bonds

The cyclic hexapeptide cyclo[-Pro¹-Gly²-Glu³(OBzl)-Pro⁴-Phe⁵-Leu⁶-] ( 1 ; OBzl: benzyl ester) was modeled and synthesized to be used as a chiral site for the separation of enantiomers. Total correlation spectroscopy and nuclear Ovehauser effect spectroscopy spectra of the peptide in CDCl₃ showed the presence of three stereoisomers. The two dominant stereoisomers 1a and 1b exchanged chemically with each other, while the minor stereoisomer 1c exchanged exclusively with the stereoisomer 1b . Stereoisomer 1a had two cis proline peptide bonds while stereoisomer 1b had all-trans peptide bonds. The stereoisomer 1c had, for nonstrained peptides, an unusual cis phenylalanine peptide bond while both proline peptide bonds were trans. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Peptide design 310-helical conformation of a linear pentapeptide containing two dehydrophenylalanines,Boc-Gly-ΔZPhe-Leu-ΔZPhe-Ala-NHCH3

α, β-Dehydroamino acids are expected to provide conformational constraint to the peptide backbone. A pentapeptide containing two dehydrophenylalanines (Δ^ZPhe) separated by one L -amino acid has been synthesized and its solid state conformation determined. The pentapeptide, Boc-Gly-Δ^ZPhe-Leu-Δ^ZPhe-Ala-NHCH₃, crystallizes from aqueous methanol in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. There are four formula units, C₃₅H₄₆N₆O₇, in a unit cell of dimensions a = 10.155(3), b = 15.175(1), and c = 23.447(2) Å, at room temperature. The structure was solved by direct methods program, SIR88, and refined to a final R = 0.038 based on 3049 reflections with I > 2σ(I). All the peptide links are trans and the backbone conformation of the pentapeptide can be described as a 3₁₀-helix, with mean ?, ψ values of ?65.1° and ?22.8° (the value is averaged over the first four residues). There are four intramolecular 4 → 1 type hydrogen bonds characteristic of 3₁₀-type helices. In the crystal, the helices are held together by intermolecular N? H…?O?C head-to-tail and lateral hydrogen bonding between symmetry related molecules. This mode of packing is similar to the packing motifs observed so often in other oligopeptides that adopt a 3₁₀-helical structure. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Proton transfer and polarizability of hydrogen bonds in proteins coupled with conformational changes. I. Infrared investigation of poly(glutamic acid) with various N Bases

The nature of hydrogen bonds formed between carboxylic acid residues and histidine residues in proteins is studied by ir spectroscopy. Poly(glutamic acid) [(Glu)_n] is investigated with various monomer N bases. The position of the proton transfer equilibrium OH…?N ? O^?…?H⁺N is determined considering the bands of the carboxylic group. It is shown that largely symmetrical double minimum energy surfaces are present in the OH…?N ? O^?…?H⁺N bonds when the pK_a of the protonated N base is two values larger than that of the carboxylic groups of (Glu)_n. Hence OH…?N ? O^?…?H⁺N bonds between glutamic and aspartic acid residues and histidine residues in proteins may be easily polarizable proton transfer hydrogen bonds. The polarizability of these bonds is one to two orders of magnitude larger than usual electron polarizabilities; therefore, these bonds strongly interact with their environment. It is demonstrated that water molecules shift these proton transfer equilibria in favor of the polar proton boundary structure. The access of water molecules to such bonds in proteins and therefore the position of this proton transfer equilibrium is dependent on conformation. The amide bands show that (Glu)_n is α-helical with all systems. The only exception is the (Glu)_n-n-propylamine system. When this system is hydrated (Glu)_n is α-helical, too. When it is dried, however, (Glu)_n forms antiparallel β-structure. This conformational transition, dependent on degree of hydration, is reversible. An excess of n-propylamine has the same effect on conformation as hydration.     

NMR study of the structure of short-chain peptides in solution.

The electron-mediated spin–spin coupling constant J between the amide NH and the α-CH protons in the dipeptide fragment C^α? CO(NH? C^αH)R? C′ONH? C^α is dependent on the dihedral angle of rotation (Φ) around the N? C bond. Measurement of J in a series of zwitterionic dipeptides H₃N⁺? CHR₁? CONH? CHR₂? CO₂^? (which is conformationally similar to the dipeptide fragment) in TFA solution shows that J is independent of R₁, but dependent on the steric bulk of R₂. The data are interpreted in terms of a model that assumes that what we measure is an average value of J? a thermal average over all the possible rotamers. The groups R₁ and R₂ are, in most cases, sterically kept apart by the trans and planar amide bonds, and hence the independence of J of R₁. This model is consistent with the theoretical calculations done on the dipeptide fragment. The effect of the structural characteristics of the side chains (e.g., the effect of lengthening and branching the side chains) on the J values in dipeptides is discussed in the light of the existing results of theoretical calculations. Study of 〈J〉 values in tripeptides (C₆H₅CH₂OCONH? CHR₁? CONH? CHR₂? CO₂CH₃, essentially three linked peptide units) shows that electrostatic interaction between the two amide bonds modifies the potential energy surface and the 〈J〉 value of a dipeptide subunit in the tripeptides. Also in some cases, direct steric interaction between the two side chains in the two adjacent dipeptide subunits in the tripeptide affects the potential energy surfaces of the individual dipeptide subunits and hence the 〈J〉 values. The influence of the structural characteristics of the side chains of individual amino acids on structure formation at or beyond the dipeptide level is discussed at various points. The J(NH? ^αCH) values of CH₃CONH? CHR? CONH₂ and CH₃CONH? CHR? CO₂CH₃ with the same R are quite different for R = valine, leucine, phenylalanine, methionine, but equal for R = glycine. This, coupled with the fact that one of the carboxamide NH resonances has a chemical shift different from its counterpart in simple amides like CH₃CONH₂ and the other carboxamide NH has the same chemical shift as its counterpart in CH₃CONH₂, suggest the presence of a hydrogen bond in dipeptide CH₃CONH? CHR? CONH₂ with carboxamide NH as the donor. Theoretical evidence for two seven-membered hydrogen-bonded rings with the carboxamide NH as donor and the acetyl oxygen as acceptor is summarized. Our data cannot suggest the number of such hydrogen-bonded rings, nor can they conclude the relative proportion of these rings in a particular dipeptide. A discussion of the difficulty of interpretation is presented and the data are discussed under certain simplifying assumptions.     

N-methylleucine gramicidin-S and (di-N-methylleucine) gramicidin-S conformations with cis L-Orn-L-N-MeLeu peptide bonds.

Conformations containing all trans peptide bonds have previously been proposed for N-methylleucine gramicidin-S and (di-N-methylleucine) gramicidin-S based on an evaluation of proton nuclear magnetic resonance parameters in a series of solvents. These gramicidin-S derivatives exhibit full biological activity despite the fact that the proposed solution conformations differ in backbone topology and relative orientation of the Phe and Orn side chains compared to gramicidin-S. The present authors discuss conformations for N-methylleucine gramicidin-S and (di-N-methylleucine) gramicidin-S which incorporate cis peptide bonds at L -Orn-L -N-MeLeu, where the gramicidin-S backbone is essentially retained, and the relative orientation of the Pro, Orn, Val, and Phe side chains correspond to those observed for gramicidin-S. A novel hydrogen-bond arrangement involving one carbonyl group interacting with two peptide protons (1 ←4 and 1 ←5 types) is proposed to stabilize the backbone conformation in the gramicidin-S derivatives. A recent report on the cyclic heptapeptide antibiotic, Ilamycin B₁, shows the presence of cis peptide bonds at N-CH₃ amino acids, as well as the novel hydrogen-bond arrangement presented above.     

Prediction ofcis/transisomerization in proteins using PSI-BLAST profiles and secondary structure information

Background  

The majority of peptide bonds in proteins are found to occur in thetransconformation. However, for proline residues, a considerable fraction of Prolyl peptide bonds adopt thecisform. Prolinecis/transisomerization is known to play a critical role in protein folding, splicing, cell signaling and transmembrane active transport. Accurate prediction of prolinecis/transisomerization in proteins would have many important applications towards the understanding of protein structure and function.     

15N nmr spectroscopy. I. Polysarcosine and related sequence polypeptides

The natural abundance ¹⁵N nmr spectra of linear polysarcosine (DP = 35) has been recorded in Me₂SO and H₂O solution. Because of cis/trans isomerization at the peptide bond, a broad signal with several splittings was observed. These splittings appear to reflect the influence of three peptide bonds on a single N atom. The ¹⁵N signals from the sequence polypeptides (β-Ala-Sar-Gly)_n and (β-Ala-Sar-D ,L -Ala)_n also show a cis/trans splitting, as well as chemical shifts which are dependent on the peptide sequence. The tertiary nitrogen of the sarcosyl residue has a T₁ relaxation time which is longer than the T₁ for secondary nitrogens of the other amino acids. The nuclear Overhauser effect is also discussed.     

Binding of alcohols to the peptide CO group of poly-L-proline in the I and II conformation. II. Binding constants from infrared measurements in solution

Trifluoroethanol, benzyl alcohol, and n-butanol bind to the peptide and acelyl CO groups of poly-O-acetyl-L -hydroxyproline in dichloromethane via hydrogen bonds. The binding aflinity decreases from trifhioroelhanol to n-buitanol. For the acelyl CO groups the binding does not depend on the conformation of the polymer but for the peptide CO groups the binding constants are larger by a factor of two to five time when it is in the helix II conformation (all peptide bonds trans) than when it assumes the helix I conformation (all peptide bonds cis). This preference is explained by the higher accessibility of the peptide CO groups in the II helix. The small additional energy which results from the preferential binding is sufficient, to induce a complete I → II transition because of the very high cooperativily of the system. The quantitative dependence of the equilibrium constant s for the propagation step of the transition on solvent composition (ratio of trifluoroethanol or benzyl alcohol to n-butanol) is derived from the binding data. It agrees satisfactorily with the empirical relation obtained from a best fit to transition curves of Ganseret al. The I ? II conversion of poly-L -proline is therefore an example of a conformational transition whose solvent dependence can be explained by a binding mechanism.     

Modulating the structure of phenylalanine‐incorporated ascidiacyclamide through fluorination

We designed four fluorinated Phe‐incorporated ascidiacyclamide ([Phe]ASC) analogs, (cyclo(?Xxx1‐oxazoline2‐d ‐Val3‐thiazole4‐Ile5‐oxazoline6‐d ‐Val7‐thiazole8‐)), [(4‐F)Phe]ASC (Xxx1: 4‐fluorophenylalanine), [(3,5‐F₂)Phe]ASC (Xxx1: 3,5‐difluorophenylalanine), [(3,4,5‐F₃)Phe]ASC (Xxx1: 3,4,5‐trifluorophenylalanine) and [(F₅)Phe]ASC (Xxx1: pentafluorophenylalanine), to modulate the π‐electron density of the aromatic ring of the Phe residue. X‐ray diffraction analysis, ¹H NMR and CD spectra all suggested that the interactions between the benzene ring of the Xxx1 residue and the alkyl groups of oxazoline2 contribute to the stability of the folded structure of these analogs. Substituting fluorines for the hydrogens progressively weakened those interactions through reducing the π‐electron density, thereby mediating transformation from the folded to square structure. As a result, [(F₅)Phe]ASC preferred the square form more than the other analogs did. Also contributing to the preference for the square form may be the hindrance of the rotation around the Cα–Cβ bond by the two ortho‐fluoro substituents of [(F₅)Phe]ASC. These findings demonstrate that the structure of ASC can be modulated by using fluorine as an electron‐withdrawing group. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and conformation of the cyclic octapeptides cyclo(Phe-Pro)4, cyclo(Leu-Pro)4, and cyclo[Lys(Z)-Pro]4

Cyclic octapeptides, cyclo(X-Pro)₄, where X represents Phe, Leu, or Lys(Z), were synthesized and their conformations investigated. A C₂-symmetric conformer containing two cis peptide bonds was found in all of these cyclic octapeptides. The numbers of available conformations due to the cis–trans isomerization of Pro peptide bonds depended on the nature of the solvent and X residue: they decreased in the following order: cyclo[Lys(Z)-Pro]₄ > cyclo(Leu-Pro)₄ > cyclo(Phe-Pro)₄ in CDCl₃. ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) of these cyclic octapeptides were measured, and the contribution of segmental mobility to T₁ was found to vary with the nature of the X residue.     

β-Alanine containing cyclic peptides with turned structure: The “pseudo type II β-turn.” VI

In the present paper we describe the synthesis, purification, single crystal x-ray analysis, and nmr solution characterization, combined with restrained molecular dynamic simulations, of the cyclic hexapeptide cyclo-(L -Pro-L -Phe-β-Ala)₂. The peptide was synthesized by classical solution methods and the cyclization of the free hexapeptide was accomplished in good yields in diluted methylene chloride solution using N,N-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ from methanol-dichloro-methane solution. The two identical halves of the molecule adopt in the solid state two different conformations. One β-Ala-L -Pro peptide bond is trans, while the second is cis. The molecule is present in dimethylsulfoxide d₆ solutions as a mixture of conformational families. One of these corresponds to a C₂ symmetrical molecule with both β-Ala-Pro cis peptide bonds, while the second major conformation is very similar to that observed in the solid state. All Pro-Phe segments, both in the solid state and the symmetrical and unsym-metrical solution conformations, display ?,ψ angles close to that of position i + 1 and i + 2 of type II β-turns. In addition, the segments preceeded by a trans β-Ala-Pro peptide bond are characterized by a typical i ← i + 3 hydrogen bond, which is absent in the conformer containing a cis β-Ala-Pro peptide bond. The latter conformation corresponds to a new structural domain we define as the “pseudo type II β-turn.” © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chain length dependent transition of 310- to α-helix of Boc-(Ala-Aib)n-OMe

An apolar synthetic octapeptide, Boc-(Ala-Aib)₄-OMe, was crystallized in the triclinic space group P1 with cell dimensions a = 11.558 Å, b = 11.643 Å, c = 9.650 Å, α = 120.220°, β = 107.000°, γ = 90.430°, V = 1055.889 ų, Z = 1, C₃₄H₆₀O₁₁N₈·H₂O. The calculated crystal density was 1.217 g/cm³ and the absorption coefficient ? was 6.1. All the intrahelical hydrogen bonds are of the 3₁₀ type, but the torsion angles, ? and ψ, of Ala(5) and Ala(7) deviate from the standard values. The distortion of the 3₁₀-helix at the C-terminal half is due to accommodation of the bulky Boc group of an adjacent peptide in the nacking. A water molecule is held between the N-terminal of one peptide and the C-terminal of the other. The oxygen atom of water forms hydrogen bonds with N (1) -H and N (2) -H, which are not involved in the intrahelical hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen atoms of water also formed hydrogen bonds with carbonyl oxygens of the adjacent peptide molecule. On the other hand, ¹H-nmr analysis revealed that the octapeptide took an α-helical structure in a CD₃CN solution. The longer peptides, Boc-(Ala-Aib)₆-OMe and Boc-(Ala-Aib)₈-OMe, were also shown to take an α-helical structure in a CD₃CN solution. An α-helical conformation of the hexadecapeptide in the solid state was suggested by x-ray analysis of the crystalline structure. Thus, the critical length for transition from the 3₁₀- to α-helix of Boc-(Ala-Aib)_n-OMe is 8. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.