| Abstract: | We have synthesized (Pro-Pro-βAla)n as a model for collagen. The synthetic polytripeptide, mol wt 6500, exhibits a large negative optical rotation with a very strong negative Cotton effect centered at 216 nm. The optical rotatory dispersion of (Pro-Pro-βAla)n followed a single-term Drude equation and the λc was 195 nm. The rotation decreased markedly on heating with the midpoint of the broad transition at 55°C. Preliminary studies also showed loss of structure in guadinine HCl. The circular dichroism spectrum of the polymer exhibited a deep trough at 190 nm. The marked similarities of solution properties of (Pro-Pro-βAla)n to (Pro-Pro-Gly)n suggest that β-alanine can replace glycine in generating collagen-like helix in solution. |
