Conformational Preferences of a β‐Octapeptide as Function of Solvent and Force‐Field Parameters

The ability to design properly folded β‐peptides with specific biological activities requires detailed insight into the relationship between the amino acid sequence and the secondary and/or tertiary structure of the peptide. One of the most frequently used spectroscopic techniques for resolving the structure of a biomolecule is NMR spectroscopy. Because only signal intensities and frequencies are recorded in the experiment, a conformational interpretation of the recorded data is not straightforward, especially for flexible molecules. The occurrence of conformational and/or time averaging, and the limited amount and accuracy of experimental data hamper the precise conformational determination of a biomolecule. In addition, the relation between experimental observables with the underlying conformational ensemble is often only approximately known, thereby aggravating the difficulty of structure determination of biomolecules. The problematic aspects of structure refinement based on NMR nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) intensities and ³J‐coupling data are illustrated by simulating a β‐octapeptide in explicit MeOH and H₂O as solvents using three different force fields. NMR Data indicated that this peptide would fold into a 3₁₄‐helix in MeOH and into a hairpin in H₂O. Our analysis focused on the conformational space visited by the peptide, on structural properties of the peptide, and on agreement of the MD trajectories with available NMR data. We conclude that 1) although the 3₁₄‐helical structure is present when the peptide is solvated in MeOH, it is not the only relevant conformation, and that 2) the NMR data set available for the peptide, when solvated in H₂O, does not provide sufficient information to derive a single secondary structure, but rather a multitude of folds that fulfill the NOE data set.     

The Effect of Fluoro Substitution upon the β‐Hairpin Fold of a β‐Tetrapeptide in Methanol

The importance of β‐peptides lies in their ability to mimic the conformational behavior of α‐peptides, even with a much shorter chain length, and in their resistance to proteases. To investigate the effect of substitution of β‐peptides on their dominant fold, we have carried out a molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulation study of two tetrapeptides, Ac‐(2R,3S)‐β^2,3hVal(αMe)‐(2S)‐β²hPhe‐(R)‐β³hLys‐(2R,3S)‐β^2,3‐Ala(αMe)‐NH₂, differing in the substitution at the C_α of Phe2 (pepF with F, and pepH with H). Three simulations, unrestrained (UNRES), using ³J‐coupling biasing with local elevation in combination with either instantaneous (INS) or time‐averaging (AVE) NOE distance restraining, were carried out for each peptide. In the unrestrained simulations, we find three (pepF) and two (pepH) NOE distance bound violations of maximally 0.22 nm that involve the terminal residues. The restrained simulations match both the NOE distance bounds and ³J‐values derived from experiment. The fluorinated peptide shows a slightly larger conformational variability than the non‐fluorinated one.     

On the Use of a Supramolecular Coarse‐Grained Model for the Solvent in Simulations of the Folding Equilibrium of an Octa‐β‐peptide in MeOH and H2O

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation can give a detailed picture of conformational equilibria of biomolecules, but it is only reliable if the force field used in the simulation is accurate, and the sampling of the conformational space accessible to the biomolecule shows many (un)folding transitions to allow for precise averages of observable quantities. Here, the use of coarse‐grained (CG) solvent MeOH and H₂O models to speed up the sampling of the conformational equilibria of an octa‐β‐peptide is investigated. This peptide is thought to predominantly adopt a 3₁₄‐helical fold when solvated in MeOH, and a hairpin fold when solvated in H₂O on the basis of the NMR data. Various factors such as the chirality of a residue, a force‐field modification for the solute, coarse‐graining of the solvent model, and an extension of the nonbonded interaction cut‐off radius are shown to influence the simulated conformational equilibria and the agreement with the experimental NMR data for the octa‐β‐peptide.     

Evidence that the β‐Peptide 14‐Helix is Stabilized by β3‐Residues with Side‐Chain Branching Adjacent to the β‐Carbon Atom

Oligomers of β‐substituted β‐amino acids (‘β³‐peptides') are known to adopt a helical secondary structure defined by 14‐membered ring hydrogen bonds ('14‐helix'). Here, we describe a deca‐β³‐peptide, 1 , that does not adopt the 14‐helical conformation and that may prefer an alternative secondary structure. β³‐Peptide 1 is composed exclusively of residues with side chains that are not branched adjacent to the β‐C‐atom (β³‐hLeu, β³‐hLys, and β³‐hTyr). In contrast, an analogous β‐peptide, 2 , containing β³‐hVal residues in place of the β³‐hLeu residues of 1 , adopts a 14‐helical conformation in MeOH, according to CD data. These results illustrate the importance of side‐chain branching in determining the conformational preferences of β³‐peptides.     

The Propensity of α‐Aminoisobutyric Acid (=2‐Methylalanine; Aib) to Induce Helical Secondary Structure in an α‐Heptapeptide: A Computational Study

We present a molecular‐dynamics simulation study of an α‐heptapeptide containing an α‐aminoisobutyric acid (=2‐methylalanine; Aib) residue, Val¹‐Ala²‐Leu³‐Aib⁴‐Ile⁵‐Met⁶‐Phe⁷, and a quantum‐mechanical (QM) study of simplified models to investigate the propensity of the Aib residue to induce 3₁₀/α‐helical conformation. For comparison, we have also performed simulations of three analogues of the peptide with the Aib residue being replaced by L ‐Ala, D ‐Ala, and Gly, respectively, which provide information on the subtitution effect at C(α) (two Me groups for Aib, one for L ‐Ala and D ‐Ala, and zero for Gly). Our simulations suggest that, in MeOH, the heptapeptide hardly folds into canonical helical conformations, but appears to populate multiple conformations, i.e., C₇ and 3₁₀‐helical ones, which is in agreement with results from the QM calculations and NMR experiments. The populations of these conformations depend on the polarity of the solvent. Our study confirms that a short peptide, though with the presence of an Aib residue in the middle of the chain, does not have to fold to an α‐helical secondary structure. To generate a helical conformation for a linear peptide, several Aib residues should be present in the peptide, either sequentially or alternatively, to enhance the propensity of Aib‐containing peptides towards the helical conformation. A correction of a few of the published NMR data is reported.     

NMR‐Solution Structures in Methanol of an α‐Heptapeptide,of a β3/β2‐Nonapeptide,and of an all‐β3‐Icosapeptide Carrying the 20 Proteinogenic Side Chains

The NMR‐solution structure of an α‐heptapeptide with a central Aib residue was investigated in order to verify that, in contrast to β‐peptides, short α‐peptides do not form a helical structures in MeOH. Although the central Aib residue was found to induce a bend in the experimentally determined structure, no secondary structure typical for longer α‐peptides or proteins was found. A β²/β³‐nonapeptide with polar, positively charged side chains was subjected to NMR analysis in MeOH and H₂O. Whereas, in MeOH, it folds into a 10/12‐helix very similar to the structure determined for a corresponding β²/β³‐nonapeptide with only aliphatic side chains, no dominant conformation could be determined in H₂O. Finally, the NMR analysis of a β³‐icosapeptide containing the side chains of all 20 proteinogenic amino acids in MeOH is described. It revealed that this 20mer folds into a 3₁₄‐helix over its whole length forming six full turns, the longest 3₁₄‐helix found so far. Together, our findings confirm that, in contrast to α‐peptides, β‐peptides not only form helices with just six residues, but also form helices that are longer than helical sections usually observed in proteins or natural peptides. The higher helix‐forming propensity of long β‐peptides is attributed to the conformation‐stabilizing effect of the staggered ethane sections in β‐peptides which outweighs the detrimental effect of the increasing macrodipole.     

Structure and Conformation of β‐Oligopeptide Derivatives with Simple Proteinogenic Side Chains: Circular Dichroism and Molecular Dynamics Investigations

A careful CD analysis (Figs. 1 – 3 and 5; MeOH or H₂O solutions) of β‐oligopeptides ( 1 – 6 , B , C ) containing four to seven β‐amino acids reveals that seemingly small structural changes cause a switch from the CD pattern (maxima of opposite sign near 215 and 200 nm) associated with a 3₁₄‐helical structure to the CD pattern (single Cotton effect at ca. 205 nm) considered characteristic of a so‐called 12/10‐helical structure, but also exhibited by a β‐peptide adopting a hair‐pin conformation with a ten‐membered H‐bonded ring as the turn motif. Comparison of these CD spectra with those of the trans‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxamide oligomers, which give rise to the long‐wavelength Cotton effect only, suggests that the H‐bonded 14‐, 12‐, and 10‐membered ring conformations of the β‐peptides, and not just the entire helix structures, might actually generate the Cotton effects. This interpretation would be compatible with our previous NMR structure determinations of β‐peptides and with previously reported temperature dependences of CD and NMR spectra of β‐peptides. To further substantiate this suggestion, we have performed a statistical analysis of the β‐peptidic conformations generated by molecular‐dynamics calculations (GROMOS96) for a β‐hexapeptide ( C ; the 12/10 helix) and a β‐heptapeptide ( 6 ; the 3₁₄ helix) in MeOH (Figs. 6 – 9). Up to 400,000 conformations at 0.5‐ps intervals were analyzed from up to 200‐ns simulations (at 298 to 360 K). The analysis reveals the co‐existence of the various H‐bonded rings. Remarkably, the central section of the β‐peptide 6 (containing a β^2,3‐amino‐acid residue of like‐configuration!) adopts a ten‐membered‐ring conformation for ca. 5% of the simulation time, while the central section of the β‐peptide C adopts a 14‐membered‐ring conformation for ca. 3% of the time, according to this computational analysis. Further experimental and theoretical work will be necessary to find out to which extent the components (H‐bonded rings) and the entire helical secondary structures of β‐peptides contribute to the observed Cotton effects.     

Folding–Unfolding Equilibrium of a Methylidene‐Substituted β‐Peptide

β‐Peptides possess the ability to fold into secondary structure elements, and this property, together with resistance to biodegradation, makes these compounds interesting for pharmaceutical applications. Recently, a novel class of β‐peptides containing methylidene moieties was described. The GROMOS 53A6 force field was used to simulate the folding equilibrium of a β³‐hexapeptide with methylidene (CH₂?) groups at all six CA‐atoms. Due to the rotational barriers induced by these methylidene groups, the helical secondary‐structure elements, normally found in β³‐peptides, are disfavored in this molecule. Simulations, started from fully extended and 3₁₄‐helical conformations, showed that the molecule adopts a complete 2₈‐helix for ca. 5% of the time and partial 2₈‐helical conformations for ca. 20% of the time. Yet, as suggested by experiments, the folding equilibrium is dominated by unfolded conformations.     

Construction and Analysis of Lifson?Roig Models for the Helical Conformations of α‐Peptides

New forms of Lifson? Roig algorithms are introduced for modeling stabilities of helices formed by polypeptides derived from α‐amino acids. The principles of constructing and generalizing these algorithms are developed, and their application to modeling of circular dichroism ellipticities and protection factors derived from H/D exchange of α‐peptide backbone amide residues are critically reviewed. With the aim of comparing the properties of structured conformations formed by α‐ and β‐peptides, the intrinsic limitations of Lifson? Roig algorithms and their underlying assumptions are analyzed. Lifson? Roig state sums that provide easy structural analysis are generated by new algorithms based on products of 8×8 and 16×16 matrices, and a simple protocol is introduced for generating new state sums that are tailored for specific purposes. The N‐ and C‐capping of highly helical α‐peptides by means of tailored helix‐stabilizing templates is shown to result in helical conformational manifolds that approach those of helical β‐peptides in conformational homogeneity.     

Do Valine Side Chains Have an Influence on the Folding Behavior of β‐Substituted β‐Peptides?

The influence of valine side chains on the folding/unfolding equilibrium and, in particular, on the 3₁₄‐helical propensity of β³‐peptides were investigated by means of molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulation. To that end, the valine side chains in two different β³‐peptides were substituted by leucine side chains. The resulting four peptides, of which three have never been synthesized, were simulated for 150 to 200 ns at 298 and 340 K, starting from a fully extended conformation. The simulation trajectories obtained were compared with respect to structural preferences and folding behavior. All four peptides showed a similar folding behavior and were found to predominantly adopt 3₁₄‐helical conformations, irrespective of the presence of valine side chains. No other well‐defined conformation was observed at significant population in any of the simulations. Our results imply that β³‐peptides show a structural preference for 3₁₄‐helices independent of the branching nature of the side chains, in contrast to what has been previously proposed on the basis of circular‐dichroism (CD) measurements.     

β‐Hairpins Generated from Hybrid Peptide Sequences Containing both α‐ and β‐Amino Acids

The incorporation of the β‐amino acid residues into specific positions in the strands and β‐turn segments of peptide hairpins is being systematically explored. The presence of an additional torsion variable about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ) enhances the conformational repertoire in β‐residues. The conformational analysis of three designed peptide hairpins composed of α/β‐hybrid segments is described: Boc‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐^DPro‐β Phe ‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 1 ), Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Val ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Leu ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 2 ), and Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Phe ‐Val‐^DPro‐Gly‐Leu‐β Phe ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 3 ). 500‐MHz ¹H‐NMR Analysis supports a preponderance of β‐hairpin conformation in solution for all three peptides, with critical cross‐strand NOEs providing evidence for the proposed structures. The crystal structure of peptide 2 reveals a β‐hairpin conformation with two β‐residues occupying facing, non‐H‐bonded positions in antiparallel β‐strands. Notably, βVal(3) adopts a gauche conformation about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ=+65°) without disturbing cross‐strand H‐bonding. The crystal structure of 2 , together with previously published crystal structures of peptides 3 and Boc‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐OMe, provide an opportunity to visualize the packing of peptide sheets with local ‘polar segments' formed as a consequence of reversal peptide‐bond orientation. The available structural evidence for hairpins suggests that β‐residues can be accommodated into nucleating turn segments and into both the H‐bonding and non‐H‐bonding positions on the strands.     

Synthesis of β3‐Peptides and Mixed α/β3‐Peptides by Thioligation

Five β‐peptide thioesters ( 1 – 5 , containing 3, 4, 10 residues) were prepared by manual solid‐phase synthesis and purified by reverse‐phase preparative HPLC. A β‐undecapeptide ( 6 ) and an α‐undecapeptide ( 7 ) with N‐terminal β³‐HCys and Cys residues were prepared by manual and machine synthesis, respectively. Coupling of the thioesters with the cysteine derivatives in the presence of PhSH (Scheme and Fig. 1) in aqueous solution occurred smoothly and quantitatively. Pentadeca‐ and heneicosapeptides ( 8 – 10 ) were isolated, after preparative RP‐HPLC purification, in yields of up to 60%. Thus, the so‐called native chemical ligation works well with β‐peptides, producing larger β³‐ and α/β³‐mixed peptides. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS) and by CD spectroscopy, including temperature and concentration dependence. β‐Peptide 9 with 21 residues shows an intense negative Cotton effect near 210 nm but no zero‐crossing above 190 nm, (Figs. 2–4), which is characteristic of β‐peptidic 3₁₄‐helical structures. Comparison of the CD spectra of the mixed α/β‐pentadecapeptide ( 10 ) and a helical α‐peptide (Fig. 5) indicate the presence of an α‐peptidic 3.6₁₃ helix.     

NMR‐Structural Investigations of a β3‐Dodecapeptide with Proteinogenic Side Chains in Methanol and in Aqueous Solutions

The structural properties of an all‐β³‐dodecapeptide with the sequence H‐β‐HLys(N^ε‐CO(CH₂)₃‐S Acm)‐β‐HPhe‐β‐HTyr‐β‐HLeu‐β‐HLys‐β‐HSer‐β‐HLys‐β‐HPhe‐β‐HSer‐β‐HVal‐β‐HLys‐β‐HAla‐OH ( 1 ) have been studied by two‐dimensional homonuclear ¹H‐NMR and by CD spectroscopy. In MeOH solution, high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy showed that the β‐dodecapeptide forms an (M)‐3₁₄‐helix, and the CD spectrum corresponds to the pattern expected for an (M)‐3₁₄‐helical secondary structure. In aqueous solution, however, the peptide adopts a predominantly extended conformation without regular secondary‐structure elements, which is in agreement with the absence of the characteristic trough near 215 nm in the CD spectrum. The NMR and CD measurements with solutions of 1 in MeOH containing 3M urea further indicated that the peptide retains the regular secondary structural elements under these conditions, whereas, after addition of 40% (v/v) H₂O to the MeOH solution, the large ¹H‐chemical‐shift dispersion indicative of a defined spatial peptide fold was lost. The β³‐dodecapeptide is – so far – the longest β‐peptide shown to adopt a regular (M)‐3₁₄‐helix conformation in an organic solvent. The observation that the structure of this long β³‐peptide is not maintained in aqueous solution indicates that the (M)‐3₁₄‐fold is primarily stabilized by short‐range interactions.     

Helix Formation and Folding in γ‐Peptides and Their Vinylogues

A complete overview of all possible periodic structures with characteristic H‐bonding patterns is provided for oligomers composed of γ‐amino acids (γ‐peptides) and their vinylogues by a systematic conformational search on hexamer model compounds employing ab initio MO theory at various levels of approximation (HF/6‐31G*, DFT/B3LYP/6‐31G*, SCRF/HF/6‐31G*, PCM//HF/6‐31G*). A wide variety of structures with definite backbone conformations and H‐bonds formed in forward and backward directions along the sequence was found in this class of foldamers. All formally conceivable H‐bonded pseudocycles between 7‐ and 24‐membered rings are predicted in the periodic hexamer structures, which are mostly helices. The backbone elongation in comparison to α‐ and β‐peptides allows several possibilities to realize identical H‐bonding patterns. In good agreement with experimental data, helical structures with 14‐ and 9‐membered pseudocycles are most stable. It is shown that the introduction of an (E)‐double bond into the backbone of the γ‐amino acid constituents, which leads to vinylogous γ‐amino acids, supports the folding into helices with larger H‐bonded pseudocycles in the resulting vinylogous γ‐peptides. Due to the considerable potential for secondary‐structure formation, γ‐peptides and their vinylogues might be useful tools in peptide and protein design and even in material sciences.     

The Structural Characterization of Folded Peptides Containing the Conformationally Constrained β‐Amino Acid Residue β2,2Ac6c

Backbone alkylation has been shown to result in a dramatic reduction in the conformational space that is sterically accessible to α‐amino acid residues in peptides. By extension, the presence of geminal dialkyl substituents at backbone atoms also restricts available conformational space for β and γ residues. Five peptides containing the achiral β^2,2‐disubstituted β‐amino acid residue, 1‐(aminomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (β^2,2Ac₆c), have been structurally characterized in crystals by X‐ray diffraction. The tripeptide Boc‐Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐Aib‐OMe ( 1 ) adopts a novel fold stabilized by two intramolecular H‐bonds (C₁₁ and C₉) of opposite directionality. The tetrapeptide Boc‐[Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c]₂‐OMe ( 2 ) and pentapeptide Boc‐[Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c]₂‐Aib‐OMe ( 3 ) form short stretches of a hybrid αβ C₁₁ helix stabilized by two and three intramolecular H‐bonds, respectively. The structure of the dipeptide Boc‐Aib‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐OMe ( 5 ) does not reveal any intramolecular H‐bond. The aggregation pattern in the crystal provides an example of an extended conformation of the β^2,2Ac₆c residue, forming a ‘polar sheet’ like H‐bond. The protected derivative Ac‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 4 ) adopts a locally folded gauche conformation about the C_β? C_α bonds (θ=?55.7°). Of the seven examples of β^2,2Ac₆c residues reported here, six adopt gauche conformations, a feature which promotes local folding when incorporated into peptides. A comparison between the conformational properties of β^2,2Ac₆c and β^3,3Ac₆c residues, in peptides, is presented. Backbone torsional parameters of H‐bonded αβ/βα turns are derived from the structures presented in this study and earlier reports.     

A Chirally Stable,Atropoisomeric, Cα‐Tetrasubstituted α‐Amino Acid: Incorporation into Model Peptides and Conformational Preference

A variety of model peptides, including four complete homologous series, to the pentamer level, characterized by the recently proposed binaphthyl‐based, axially chiral, C^α‐tetrasubstituted, cyclic α‐amino acid Bin, in combination with Ala, Gly, or Aib residues, was synthesized by solution methods and fully characterized. The solution conformational propensity of these peptides was determined by FT‐IR absorption and ¹H‐NMR techniques. Moreover, the molecular structures of the free amino acid (S)‐enantiomer and an N^α‐acylated dipeptide alkylamide with the heterochiral sequence ‐(R)‐Bin‐Phe‐ were assessed in the crystal state by X‐ray diffraction. Taken together, the results point to the conclusion that β‐bends and 3₁₀ helices are preferentially adopted by Bin‐containing peptides, although the fully extended conformation would also be adopted in solution by the short oligomers to some extent. We also confirmed the tendency of (R)‐Bin to fold a peptide chain into right‐handed bend and helical structures. The absolute configuration of the Bin residue(s) was correlated with the typically intense exciton‐split Cotton effect of the ¹B_b binaphthyl transition near 225 nm.     

β‐Peptide Conjugates: Syntheses and CD and NMR Investigations of β/α‐Chimeric Peptides,of a DPA‐β‐Decapeptide,and of a PEGylated β‐Heptapeptide

β³‐Peptides consisting of six, seven, and ten homologated proteinogenic amino acid residues have been attached to an α‐heptapeptide (all d‐ amino acid residues; 4 ), to a hexaethylene glycol chain (PEGylation; 5c ), and to dipicolinic acid (DPA derivative 6 ), respectively. The conjugation of the β‐peptides with the second component was carried out through the N‐termini in all three cases. According to NMR analysis (CD₃OH solutions), the (M)‐3₁₄‐helical structure of the β‐peptidic segments was unscathed in all three chimeric compounds (Figs. 2, 4, and 5). The α‐peptidic section of the α/β‐peptide was unstructured, and so was the oligoethylene glycol chain in the PEGylated compound. Thus, neither does the appendage influence the β‐peptidic secondary structure, nor does the latter cause any order in the attached oligomers to be observed by this method of analysis. A similar conclusion may be drawn from CD spectra (Figs. 1, 3, and 5). These results bode well for the development of delivery systems involving β‐peptides.     

Influence of Variation of a Side Chain on the Folding Equilibrium of a β‐Peptide

The ability to design well‐folding β‐peptides with a specific biological activity requires detailed insight into the relationship between the β‐amino acid sequence and the three‐dimensional structure of the peptide. Here, we present a molecular‐dynamics (MD) study of the influence of a variation of a side chain on the folding equilibrium of a β‐heptapeptide that folds into a 3₁₄‐helical structure. The side chain of the 5th residue, a valine, was changed into five differently branched side chains of different lengths and polarity, Ala, Leu, Ile, Ser, and Thr. Two computational techniques, long‐time MD simulations and the one‐step perturbation method, were used to obtain free enthalpies of folding. The simulations show that all six peptides exhibit similar folding behavior, and that their dominant fold is the same, i.e., a 3₁₄‐helix. Despite the similarities of their structural properties, a small stabilization effect of ca. 2 kJ mol^?1 on the folding equilibrium of the 3₁₄‐helical structure due to a branching C_γ‐atom in the β³‐side chain is observed. These results confirm those of previous circular dichroism (CD) studies. The length of side chain and its polarity seem to have no apparent (de)stabilization effect. Application of the cost‐effective one‐step perturbation method to predict free‐enthalpy differences appeared to yield an overall accuracy of about k_BT, which is not sufficient to detect the small stabilization effect.     

Theoretical Prediction of Substituent Effects on the Intrinsic Folding Properties of β‐Peptides

A systematic conformational analysis on blocked β‐amino acids as constituents of β‐peptides by ab initio MO theory reveals that the conformer pool of β‐peptide monomers is essentially determined by the conformation of simple submonomer fragments. The influence of single and multiple substitutions at the C(α) and C(β) backbone atoms on the intrinsic folding properties of the monomers was estimated both in the single‐molecule approximation and in a polar solvent continuum, applying a quantum‐chemical SCRF model. Substitution at C(β) has a higher impact on the β‐amino acid conformation than a substitution at C(α). It can be shown that the conformations of important periodic secondary structures in β‐peptides belong to the conformer pool of the monomers, even for those secondary‐structure elements where H‐bond formation appears only in longer sequences. Rules for design of special secondary‐structure types by selection of an actual substituent pattern in the β‐amino acid constituents have been derived within the monomer approach.