Structure and assembly of designed beta-hairpin peptides in crystals as models for beta-sheet aggregation

De novo designed beta-hairpin peptides have generally been recalcitrant to crystallization. The crystal structures of four synthetic peptide beta-hairpins, Boc-Leu-Val-Val-DPro-Gly-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (1), Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-DPro-Ala-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (2), Boc-Leu-Val-Val-DPro-Aib-Leu-Val-Val-OMe (3), and Boc-Met-Leu-Phe-Val-DPro-Ala-Leu-Val-Val-Phe-OMe (4), are described. The centrally positioned DPro-Xxx segment promotes prime beta-turn formation, thereby nucleating beta-hairpin structures. In all four peptides well-defined beta-hairpins nucleated by central type II' DPro-Xxx beta-turns have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, providing a view of eight crystallographically independent hairpins. In peptides 1-3 three intramolecular cross-strand hydrogen bonds stabilized the observed beta-hairpin, with some fraying of the structures at the termini. In peptide 4, four intramolecular cross-strand hydrogen bonds stabilized the hairpin. Peptides 1-4 reveal common features of packing of beta-hairpins into crystals. Two-dimensional sheet formation mediated by intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed between antiparallel strands of adjacent molecule is a recurrent theme. The packing of two-dimensional sheets into the crystals is mediated in the third dimension by bridging solvents and interactions of projecting side chains, which are oriented on either face of the sheet. In all cases, solvation of the central DPro-Xxx peptide unit beta-turn is observed. The hairpins formed in the octapeptides are significantly buckled as compared to the larger hairpin in peptide 4, which is much flatter. The crystal structures provide insights into the possible modes of beta-sheet packing in regular crystalline arrays, which may provide a starting point for understanding beta-sandwich and cross-beta-structures in amyloid fibrils.