The lattice energetics of some polypeptide chains

The interchain energetics of alpha, beta, and PGII conformations of polyglycine, the PPII and left-handed 3.30 fold helical conformations of trans poly-L -proline, and the Yonath and Traub triple helix and left-handed three fold helices of poly(gly-pro-pro) were investigated. Intra- and inter-chain stabilization energies appear to be inversely related, and the interchain stabilization energy can be as large its the intrachain energy. The minimization of the interchain energy can be described by the simultaneous optimization of interchain hydrogen bonding and intermolecular-sidechain digitation. The stability of the poly(gly-pro-pro) triple helix can be readily explained in terms of these two factors. In all cases the experimentally observed lattice packing is predicted, although the calculated lattice constants are slightly larger than those observed. The small differences between observed and predicted lattice constants probably reflect small errors in present conformational potential functions. Homopolymers are probably the best systems to use in the refinement of conformational potential functions because solvent effects arc minimized and the experimentally observed lattice constants provide a check on the configurational calculations.