Amyloid-like behavior in abiotic, amphiphilic foldamers

Previously, we reported an abiotic amphiphilic foldamer that, upon heating, undergoes an irreversible conformational change to a highly aggregated state (Nguyen, J.Q.; Iverson, B.L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 2639-2640.). Herein, we extend this work through the study of a series of structurally related amphiphilic foldamers and present a more refined model of their conformational switching behavior. Prior to heating, all foldamers of the series exhibited spectral characteristics consistent with folding in the pleated, stacked geometry characteristic of this class of foldamer. Following heating at 80 degrees C, three of the four molecules exhibited irreversible aggregation to produce hydrogels. The hydrogels were characterized by rheology measurements, and circular dichroism spectra revealed that hydrogel formation was dependent on highly ordered intermolecular assembly, conceptually analogous to protein amyloid formation. Hydrogel formation had the effect of amplifying the subtle structural differences between molecules, as the three amphiphilic foldamer constitutional isomers that formed hydrogels upon heating displayed significant differences in hydrogel properties. Taking a global view, our results indicate that amyloid-like behavior is not unique to proteins but may be a relatively general property of amphiphilic folding molecules in aqueous solution.     

Oligocholate foldamers as carriers for hydrophilic molecules across lipid bilayers

Three cholate foldamers were synthesized by the click reaction between an azide-functionalized cholate trimer and different dialkynyl linkers. The foldamers were labeled with pyrene groups at the ends for their conformational study. The linkers between the two tricholate fragments were found to strongly influence the conformation of the foldamers in solution, as well as their ability to transport hydrophilic molecules across lipid bilayers. The folding of the oligocholates in mixed organic solvents was studied by fluorescence and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Although these molecules could not fold permanently in lipid bilayers, they were found to translocate carboxyfluorescein readily across by a carrier-based mechanism. The transport is proposed to happen when the oligocholates adopt transiently folded structures with a hydrophobic exterior and a hydrophilic internal cavity. The transport rate strongly depended on the structure of the oligocholates and was sensitive even to the change of a single bond in a foldamer 3000 Da in MW. Better folded oligocholates in solution gave slower transport in the membranes.     

Solid state NMR studies of oligourea foldamers: interaction of 15N-labelled amphiphilic helices with oriented lipid membranes

Synthetic oligomers that are derived from natural polypeptide sequences, albeit with unnatural building blocks, have attracted considerable interest in mimicking bioactive peptides and proteins. Many of those compounds adopt stable folds in aqueous environments that resemble protein structural elements. Here we have chemically prepared aliphatic oligoureas and labeled them at selected positions with (15)N for structural investigations using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. In the first step, the main tensor elements and the molecular alignment of the (15)N chemical shift tensor were analyzed. This was possible by using a two-dimensional heteronuclear chemical shift/dipolar coupling correlation experiment on a model compound that represents the chemical, and thereby also the chemical shift characteristics, of the urea bond. In the next step (15)N labeled versions of an amphipathic oligourea, that exert potent antimicrobial activities and that adopt stable helical structures in aqueous environments, were prepared. These compounds were reconstituted into oriented phospholipid bilayers and the (15)N chemical shift and (1)H-(15)N dipolar couplings of two labeled sites were determined by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The data are indicative of an alignment of this helix parallel to the membrane surface in excellent agreement with the amphipathic character of the foldamer and consistent with previous models explaining the antimicrobial activities of α-peptides.     

Preferential solvation within hydrophilic nanocavities and its effect on the folding of cholate foldamers

The conformations of three cholate foldamers and one molecular basket were studied by fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. In nonpolar solvents (e.g., hexane/ethyl acetate or ethyl acetate) mixed with a small amount of a polar solvent (e.g., alcohol or DMSO), the cholate oligomer folded into a helix with the hydrophilic faces of the cholates turned inward. Folding created a hydrophilic nanocavity preferentially solvated by the entrapped polar solvent concentrated from the bulk. This microphase separation of the polar solvent was critical to the folding process. Folding was favored by larger-sized polar solvent molecules, as fewer such molecules could occupy and solvate the nanocavity, thus requiring a smaller extent of phase separation during folding. Folding was also favored by smaller/acyclic nonpolar solvent molecules, probably because they could avoid contact with the OH/NH groups within the nanocavity better than larger/cyclic nonpolar solvent molecules.     

Dielectric relaxation of aqueous solutions of hydrophilic versus amphiphilic peptides

We report on molecular dynamics simulations of the frequency-dependent dielectric relaxation spectra at room temperature for aqueous solutions of a hydrophilic peptide and an amphiphilic peptide at two concentrations. We find that only the high-concentration amphiphilic peptide solution exhibits an anomalous dielectric increment over that of pure water, while the hydrophilic peptide exhibits a significant dielectric decrement. The dielectric component analysis carried out by decomposing these peptide solutions into peptide, hydration layer, and outer layer(s) of water clearly shows the presence of a unique dipolar component with a relaxation time scale on the order of approximately 25 ps (compared to the bulk water time scale of approximately 11 ps) that originates from the interaction between the hydration layer water and the outer layer(s) of water. Results obtained from the dielectric component analysis further show the emergence of a distinct and much lower frequency relaxation process for the high-concentration amphiphilic peptide compared to the hydrophilic peptide due to strong peptide dipolar couplings to all constituents, accompanied by a slowing of the structural relaxation in all water layers, giving rise to time scales close to approximately 1 ns. We suggest that the molecular origin of the dielectric relaxation anomalies is due to frustration in the water network arising from the amphiphilic chemistry of the peptide that does not allow it to reorient on the picosecond time scale of bulk water motions. This explanation is consistent with the idea of the "slaving" of residue side chain motions to protein surface water, and furthermore offers the possibility that the anomalous dynamics observed from a number of spectroscopies arises at the interface of hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains on the protein surface.     

Secondary globular structure of copolymers containing amphiphilic and hydrophilic units: Computer simulation analysis

The coil-globule transition in copolymers composed of amphiphilic and hydrophilic monomer units has been studied by the computer simulation technique. It has been shown that the structure of globules formed in such systems substantially depends on the rate at which the solvent quality worsens. The globule resulting from slow cooling is cylindrical, and its core contains a large amount of hydrophilic groups. The globule formed upon rapid cooling takes the helical conformation, in which all hydrophilic groups are displaced to the periphery. One helix turn of such globules contains 3–5 units. In both cases, the backbone of the polymer chain forms a typical zigzag-shaped structure with an average angle between neighboring bond vectors of about 60°. This fact implies that globules of copolymers consisting of amphiphilic and hydrophilic units comprise secondary structure components.     

Solvent-tunable binding of hydrophilic and hydrophobic guests by amphiphilic molecular baskets

[reaction: see text] Responsive amphiphilic molecular baskets were obtained by attaching four facially amphiphilic cholate groups to a tetraaminocalixarene scaffold. Their binding properties can be switched by solvent changes. In nonpolar solvents, the molecules utilize the hydrophilic faces of the cholates to bind hydrophilic molecules such as glucose derivatives. In polar solvents, the molecules employ the hydrophobic faces of the cholates to bind hydrophobic guests. A water-soluble basket can bind polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including anthracene, pyrene, and perylene. The binding free energy (-deltaG) ranges from 5 to 8 kcal/mol and is directly proportional to the surface area of the aromatic hosts. Binding of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic guests is driven by solvophobic interactions.     

Synthesis and physical behavior of amphiphilic dendrimers with layered organization of hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks

Amphiphilic carbosilane dendrimers with novel architectural layout have been synthesized. These dendrimers contain peripheral groups consisting of covalently bound promesogenic fragments and hydrophilic (oligoethyleneglycolic) linkages which are connected to a carbosilane core in two distinct ways: as spacer or as tail arrangement. Such molecules have a block structure where the hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks are distributed within the dendrimer forming layers of different polarity. The hydrophilic layer is either enclosed between two hydrophobic parts of the molecule or is situated on the periphery. The synthetic strategy for achieving these structures is described. The interfacial properties of the dendrimers were studied and the influence of the dendritic structure’s organization on the Langmuir film formation process is assessed.     

Innovative amphiphilic cellulose nanobiostructures: Physicochemical,spectroscopic, morphological,and hydrophilic/lipophilic properties

The amphiphilic character of cellulosic copolymers offers the opportunity to employ their derivatives as novel bio-friendly stable amphiphilic agents. It can be speculated that the synthesized nanobiostructures with hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments will have micellar features. Our investigations, for the first time, demonstrate that the amphiphilic nature of the synthesized macromolecules based on hydrophobic cellulose triacetate (CTA) and hydroxyl terminated oligomeric species of CTA (HCTA) by using hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) with M_n 600 and 2000 D as CTA-g-PEG, 600; CTA-g-PEG, 2000; HCTA-b-PEG, 600; and HCTA-b-PEG, 2000. The characteristic features of the copolymers were determined by XRD, differential scanning calorimeter, ¹H NMR, FTIR, GPC, dynamic light scattering measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, their critical micelle concentrations were evaluated. The obtained results indicated that the hydrophobic blocks make a significant influence on the micellar characteristics of the surfactants. A comparison of the micellar behavior of a hydrophobic species, like pyrene, incorporated in the synthesized systems indicated that the incorporation content of the surfactants is influenced by the hydrophobic and hydrophilic chain lengths. Therefore, it is possible to design the diversity of the surfactants based on various hydrophilic/lipophilic balance.     

Towards photocontrol over the helix-coil transition in foldamers: synthesis and photoresponsive behavior of azobenzene-core amphiphilic oligo(meta-phenylene ethynylene)s

Introduction of photochromic azobenzene units into amphiphilic oligo(meta-phenylene ethynylene)s allowed photocontrol over the helix-coil transition in this important class of foldamers. Two design principles were followed in efforts to accommodate cis- and trans-azobenzene moieties within the helical structure to selectively turn the helical state on and off, respectively. Several oligomer series with varying connectivities to the central azobenzene chromophore were synthesized and these photochromic oligomers were investigated with regard to their folding behavior in both dark and irradiated states. Both the foldamers' chain lengths and the electronic structures of the azobenzene moieties had to be optimized to ensure folding differences and selective excitation of the photochrome. The design of such stimuli-responsive macromolecules, displaying large structural changes upon irradiation, should guide the design of future materials in, for example, "smart" delivery applications.     

General approach to the synthesis of persubstituted hydrophilic and amphiphilic beta-cyclodextrin derivatives.

Heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-allyl)-beta-cyclodextrin 2 was converted to heptakis[2,3,6-tri-O-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)]-beta-cyclodextrin 3 by osmium tetroxide-catalyzed dihydroxylation. A diastereomeric mixture of 3 was treated with sodium periodate followed by sodium borohydride to give heptakis[2,3,6-tri-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)]-beta-cyclodextrin 5 in 86% yield. Compound 5 could be quantitatively transformed into heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-carboxymethyl)-beta-cyclodextrin 6 by TEMPO-mediated oxidation. The same reaction sequence was also applied to heptakis(2,6-di-O-allyl-3-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin 8, heptakis(2,3-di-O-allyl-6-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin 12, and heptakis(2,3-di-O-allyl-6-O-butyl)-beta-cyclodextrin 16; the analogous corresponding hydroxyethyl and carboxymethyl derivatives were isolated in high yields. All products were proved to be chemically uniform.     

Secondary structure of globules of copolymers consisting of amphiphilic and hydrophilic units: Effect of potential range

The relation of the coil-globule transition in macromolecules consisting of amphiphilic and hydrophilic monomer units to the radius of action of the interaction potential is investigated by the method of computer-assisted experiments. The internal structure of globules formed by such macromolecules is significantly dependent on the radius of action of the potential. In the case of the long-range potential, the globule is characterized by the blob structure, while in the case of the short-range potential, a quasi-helical structure forms. In this structure, the skeleton of a macromolecule forms a helical turn, and the direction of twisting may vary from one turn to another. The coil-globule transition in such macromolecules proceeds through formation of the necklace conformation from quasi-helical micelle beads. For sufficiently long macromolecules, the dimensions of such globules are linearly dependent on the degree of polymerization.     

Refolding foldamers: triazene-arylene oligomers that change shape with chemical stimuli

We describe the preparation of five triazene-arylene oligomers (3, 4, 7, 8, and 11) and investigations of their folding properties in aqueous solution. These oligomers contain four 2-fold rotors and populate a conformational ensemble comprising at least 10 states. Extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies as well as X-ray crystallography establish that the presence of three members of the cucurbit[n]uril family (CB[n]), CB[10], CB[7], and CB[8], results in the selective population of the (a,a,a,a)-, (a,s,s,a)-, and (a,a,a,s)-conformers. As a result of the high affinity and highly selective binding properties of the CB[n] family, it is possible to fold a single foldamer strand (3) into the CB[8].(a,a,a,s)-3 conformer by the addition of CB[8], then unfold and refold it into the CB[7].(a,s,s,a)-3.CB[7] conformer by addition of CB[7] and 3,5-dimethylaminoadamantane (17), then unfold and refold it again into the CB[10].(a,a,a,a)-3 conformer by addition of CB[10].CB[5] and aminoadamantane (18). The transformation of CB[8].(a,a,a,s)-3 into CB[7].(a,s,s,a)-3.CB[7] proceeds through the intermediacy of CB [8].(a,a,s,a)-3.CB[7], which enhances the rate of dissociation of strand 3 from CB[8].     

Aromatic foldamers with iminodicarbonyl linkers: their structures and optical properties

[structure: see text] Carboxamides possessing naphthalene rings connected by multiple iminodicarbonyl linkers were synthesized. These molecules forced the naphthalene rings to be placed in the positions facing each other, and they form helical foldamers both in solution and in the crystalline state. Their folding structures were investigated by single-crystal X-ray analysis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Their absorption and fluorescence spectra showed a red shift as the number of naphthalene moieties increased. This remarkable change is based on the intramolecular interaction between naphthalene moieties. Helicity of the foldamer can be controlled by the introduction of chiral auxiliaries at imide nitrogen atoms, which results in an observation of induced circular dichroism.     

A starlike amphiphilic graft copolymer with hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains

A well‐defined starlike amphiphilic graft copolymer bearing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by the hydrolysis of poly‐(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone. A grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of a graft copolymer with narrow molecular weight distribution. Hydrophobic polystyrene side chains were connected to the backbones through stable C? C bonds. The poly(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbones can be easily hydrolyzed with HCl without affecting the hydrophobic polystyrene side chains. This kind of amphiphilic graft copolymer can form stable sphere micelles in water. The sizes of the micelles were dependent on the ionic strength and pH value. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3687–3697, 2007     

Pseudopeptide foldamers: the homo-oligomers of pyroglutamic acid

As a part of a program evaluating substituted gamma-lactams as conformationally constrained building blocks of pseudopeptide foldamers, we synthesized the homo-oligomers of L-pyroglutamic acid up to the tetramer level by solution methods. The preferred conformation of this pseudopeptide series in structure-supporting solvents was assessed by FT-IR absorption, 1H NMR and CD techniques. In addition, the crystal structure of the N alpha-protected dimer was established by X-ray diffraction. A high-level DFT computational modeling was performed based on the crystallographic parameters. In this analysis, we demonstrated that an alpha C-H...O=C intramolecular hydrogen bond is responsible for the stabilization of the s-trans L-pGlu-L-pGlu conformation by 1.4 kcal mol-1. This effect can be easily detected by 1H NMR spectroscopy, owing to the anomalous chemical shifts of the alpha CH protons present in all of the oligomers. In summary, we have developed a new polyimide-based, foldameric structure that, if appropriately functionalized, has promise as a rigid scaffold for novel functions and applications.     

Interplay between hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions in the self-assembly of a gemini amphiphilic pseudopeptide: from nano-spheres to hydrogels

The formation of soluble nano-spheres or stable hydrogels through the self-assembling of a simple gemini amphiphilic pseudopeptide can be controlled by the tuning of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions in aqueous medium.     

Oligoindole-based foldamers with a helical conformation induced by chloride

As a new type of foldamers, oligoindoles containing 4, 6, and 8 indole rings were synthesized, and their folding properties were characterized by a combination of 1H NMR techniques and UV/visible titration experiments. When chloride was added, the NH signals of the oligoindoles were downfield shifted as a result of hydrogen-bond formation, and the aromatic signals were upfield shifted by stacking between two indoles. Moreover, the ROESY experiment provided definitive NOE evidence for the helical stacking in the presence of chloride. Finally, the UV/visible titration experiments demonstrated that the oligoindoles formed 1:1 complexes with chloride, and the association constants greatly increased with increasing the number of the indole NHs. These observations are all consistent with the fact that oligoindoles adopt a helical conformation when complexed with chloride by hydrogen-bonding interactions.