Abstract: | 13C-nmr spectra of poly(β-benzyl L-aspartate) containing 13C-enriched 3-13C]L -alanine residues in the solid state were recorded by the cross polarization–magic angle spinning method, in order to elucidate the conformation-dependent 13C chemical shifts of L -alanine residues taking various conformations such as the antiparallel β-sheet, the right-handed α-helix, the left-handed α-helix, and the left-handed ω-helix forms obtained by appropriate treatment. The latter two conformations for L -alanine residues are achieved when L -alanine residues are incorporated into poly(β-benzyl L -aspartate). We found that the alanine Cβ carbon show significant 13C chemical shift displacement depending on conformational change, and gave the 13C chemical shift values at about 17 ppm for the left-handed ω-helix, 14 ppm for the left-handed α-helix, 15.5 ppm for the right-handed α-helix, and 21.0 ppm for the antiparallel β-sheet relative to tetramethylsilane. |