Solvent dependence of the helix-coil transition of poly-gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate. A PMR study

The coil to helix conformational transitions undergone by poly-γ-benzyl-_L-glutamate in solutions of haloacetic acids and various cosolvents were studied by means of proton magnetic resonance. The results indicate a very small solvent dependence of the α-CH Helix–coil chemical shift difference. The helical stabilities of PBLG in different solvent mixtures were interpreted in terms of modifications of the “solvent structure.”