Effects of proline ring conformation on theoretical pi-pi* absorption and CD spectra of helical poly(L-proline) forms I and II

Absorption and CD spectra of the pi-pi* transition near 200 nm are calculated for helical (Pro)10 forms I and II with a variable proline ring conformation characterized by torsion angle chi 2 in the range -60 degrees to 60 degrees. The spectra for poly(Pro) I are not sufficiently sensitive to chi 2 to suggest a preferred ring conformation. The spectra for poly(Pro) II are more sensitive to chi 2, and suggest preferred ring conformations near either or both of the chi 2 regions -50 +/- 10 degrees and 50 +/- 10 degrees.