Membrane insertion of a lipidated ras peptide studied by FTIR,solid-state NMR,and neutron diffraction spectroscopy

Membrane binding of a doubly lipid modified heptapeptide from the C-terminus of the human N-ras protein was studied by Fourier transform infrared, solid-state NMR, and neutron diffraction spectroscopy. The 16:0 peptide chains insert well into the 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine phospholipid matrix. This is indicated by a common main phase transition temperature of 21.5 degrees C for both the lipid and peptide chains as revealed by FTIR measurements. Further, (2)H NMR reveals that peptide and lipid chains have approximately the same chain length in the liquid crystalline state. This is achieved by a much lower order parameter of the 16:0 peptide chains compared to the 14:0 phospholipid chains. Finally, proton/deuterium contrast variation of neutron diffraction experiments indicates that peptide chains are localized in the membrane interior analogous to the phospholipid chains. In agreement with this model of peptide chain insertion, the peptide part is localized at the lipid-water interface of the membrane. This is revealed by (1)H nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectra recorded under magic angle spinning conditions. Quantitative cross-peak analysis allows the examination of the average location of the peptide backbone and side chains with respect to the membrane. While the backbone shows the strongest cross-relaxation rates with the phospholipid glycerol, the hydrophobic side chains of the peptide insert deeper into the membrane interior. This is supported by neutron diffraction experiments that reveal a peptide distribution in the lipid-water interface of the membrane. Concurring with these experimental findings, the amide protons of the peptide show strong water exchange as seen in NMR and FTIR measurements. No indications for a hydrogen-bonded secondary structure of the peptide backbone are found. Therefore, membrane binding of the C-terminus of the N-ras protein is mainly due to lipid chain insertion but also supported by interactions between hydrophobic side chains and the lipid membrane. The peptide assumes a mobile and disordered conformation in the membrane. Since the C-terminus of the soluble part of the ras protein is also disordered, we hypothesize that our model for membrane binding of the ras peptide realistically describes the membrane binding of the lipidated C-terminus of the active ras protein.     

Surprisingly high stability of collagen ABC heterotrimer: evaluation of side chain charge pairs

Type I collagen is a major component of skin, tendon, and ligament and forms more than 90% of bone mass. It is an AAB heterotrimer assembled from two identical alpha1 and one alpha2 chains. However, the majority of studies on the effects of amino acid substitution on triple helix stability have been performed on collagen homotrimeric helices. In a homotrimer, it is impossible to determine whether the contribution to stability is from the polyproline II helix propensity of the amino acids or from interhelix amino acid interactions. The presence of amino acids in all three chains further exaggerates their contribution. In contrast, in a heterotrimer, the individual chains may be tailored in order to have the substitution in one, two, or all three chains. Therefore, a heterotrimer can divulge specific information about any interaction based upon the substitutions in individual chains. In this paper, we evaluate the contribution of electrostatic interactions between side chain charge pairs on the stability of heterotrimers. We synthesize and analyze the stability of four AAB and four ABC heterotrimers including a surprisingly stable ABC heterotrimer composed of (DOG)10, (PKG)10, and (POG)10 chains (O = hydroxyproline). This heterotrimer has a stability comparable to that of a (POG)10 homotrimer even though D and K occur 20 times in the heterotrimeric helix and have been previously shown to significantly destabilize the triple helix compared to the P and O imino acids. These results show that the stability of heterotrimers cannot be directly determined from the analysis of charge pairs in homotrimers. Because collagen heterotrimers can be designed to have substitution in one, two, or three chains, it gives us the ability to decode cross-strand interactions in collagen in a similar fashion to alpha-helical coiled-coil interactions and DNA duplex hydrogen bonding.     

Recognition and catabolism of synthetic heterotrimeric collagen peptides by matrix metalloproteinases

BACKGROUND: The general consensus is that interstitial collagens are digested by collagenases and denatured collagen by gelatinases, although processing of fibrillar and acetic-acid-soluble collagen by gelatinase A has also been reported. One of the main difficulties in studying the mechanism of action of these matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) derives from the physicochemical properties of the natural triple-helical collagen, which makes it difficult to handle. RESULTS: Synthetic heterotrimeric collagenous peptides that contain the collagenase cleavage site of human collagen type I and differ in the thermal stability of the triple-helical fold were used to mimic natural collagen and gelatin, respectively. Results from digestion of these substrates by fibroblast and neutrophil collagenases (MMP-1 and MMP-8), as well as by gelatinase A (MMP-2), confirmed that the two classes of enzymes operate within the context of strong conformational dependency of the substrates. It was also found that gelatinases and collagenases exhibit two distinct proteolytic mechanisms: gelatinase digests the gelatin-like heterotrimer rapidly in individual steps with intermediate releases of partially processed substrate into the medium, whereas collagenases degrade the triple-helical heterotrimer by trapping it until scission through all three alpha chains is achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the usefulness of synthetic heterotrimeric collagenous peptides in the folded and unfolded state as mimics of the natural substrates collagen and gelatin, respectively, to gain a better a insight into the proteolytic mechanisms of matrix metalloproteinases.     

Inductive Effects on the Energetics of Prolyl Peptide Bond Isomerization: Implications for Collagen Folding and Stability

The hydroxylation of proline residues in collagen enhances the stability of the collagen triple helix. Previous X-ray diffraction analyses had demonstrated that the presence of an electron-withdrawing substituent on the pyrrolidine ring of proline residues has significant structural consequences [Panasik, N., Jr.; Eberhardt, E. S.; Edison, A. S.; Powell, D. R.; Raines, R. T. Int. J. Pept. Protein Res.1994, 44, 262-269]. Here, NMR and FTIR spectroscopy were used to ascertain kinetic and thermodynamic properties of N-acetyl-[β,γ-(13)C]D,L-proline methylester (1); N-acetyl-4(R)-hydroxy-L-proline [(13)C]methylester (2); and N-acetyl-4(R)-fluoro-L-proline methylester (3). The pK(a)'s of the nitrogen atom in the parent amino acids decrease in the order: proline (10.8) > 4(R)-hydroxy-L-proline (9.68) > 4(R)-fluoro-L-proline (9.23). In water or dioxane, amide I vibrational modes decrease in the order: 1 > 2 > 3. At 37 °C in dioxane, the rate constants for amide bond isomerization are greater for 3 than 1. Each of these results is consistent with the traditional picture of amide resonance coupled with an inductive effect that results in a higher bond order in the amide C=O bond and a lower bond order in the amide C-N bond. Further, at 37 °C in water or dioxane equilibrium concentrations of the trans isomer increase in the order: 1 < 2 < 3. Inductive effects may therefore have a significant impact on the folding and stability of collagen, which has a preponderance of hydroxyproline residues, all with peptide bonds in the trans conformation.     

The role of cation-pi interactions in biomolecular association. Design of peptides favoring interactions between cationic and aromatic amino acid side chains.

Cation-pi interactions between amino acid side chains are increasingly being recognized as important structural and functional features of proteins and other biomolecules. Although these interactions have been found in static protein structures, they have not yet been detected in dynamic biomolecular systems. We determined, by (1)H NMR spectroscopic titrations, the energies of cation-pi interactions of the amino acid derivative AcLysOMe (1) with AcPheOEt (2) and with AcTyrOEt (3) in aqueous and three organic solvents. The interaction energy is substantial; it ranges from -2.1 to -3.4 kcal/mol and depends only slightly on the dielectric constant of the solvent. To assess the effects of auxiliary interactions and structural preorganization on formation of cation-pi interactions, we studied these interactions in the association of pentapeptides. Upon binding of the positively-charged peptide AcLysLysLysLysLysNH(2) (5) to the negatively-charged partner AcAspAspXAspAspNH(2) (6), in which X is Leu (6a), Tyr (6b), and Phe (6c), multiple interactions occur. Association of the two pentapeptides is dynamic. Free peptides and their complex are in fast exchange on the NMR time-scale, and 2D (1)H ROESY spectra of the complex of the two pentapeptides do not show intermolecular ROESY peaks. Perturbations of the chemical shifts indicated that the aromatic groups in peptides 6b and 6c were affected by the association with 5. The association constants K(A) for 5 with 6a and with 6b are nearly equal, (4.0 +/- 0.7) x 10(3) and (5.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(3) M(-)(1), respectively, while K(A) for 5 with 6c is larger, (8.3 +/- 1.3) x 10(3) M(-)(1). Molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of the pentapeptide pairs confirmed that their association is dynamic and showed that cation-pi contacts between the two peptides are stereochemically possible. A transient complex between 5 and 6 with a prominent cation-pi interaction, obtained from MD simulations, was used as a template to design cyclic peptides C(X) featuring persistent cation-pi interactions. The cyclic peptide C(X) had a sequence in which X is Tyr, Phe, and Leu. The first two peptides do, but the third does not, contain the aromatic residue capable of interacting with a cationic Lys residue. This covalent construct offered conformational stability over the noncovalent complexes and allowed thorough studies by 2D NMR spectroscopy. Multiple conformations of the cyclic peptides C(Tyr) and C(Phe) are in slow exchange on the NMR time-scale. In one of these conformations, cation-pi interaction between Lys3 and Tyr9/Phe9 is clearly evident. Multiple NOEs between the side chains of residues 3 and 9 are observed; chemical-shift changes are consistent with the placement of the side chain of Lys3 over the aromatic ring. In contrast, the cyclic peptide C(Leu) showed no evidence for close approach of the side chains of Lys3 and Leu9. The cation-pi interaction persists in both DMSO and aqueous solvents. When the disulfide bond in the cyclic peptide C(Phe) was removed, the cation-pi interaction in the acyclic peptide AC(Phe) remained. To test the reliability of the pK(a) criterion for the existence of cation-pi interactions, we determined residue-specific pK(a) values of all four Lys side chains in all three cyclic peptides C(X). While NOE cross-peaks and perturbations of the chemical shifts clearly show the existence of the cation-pi interaction, pK(a) values of Lys3 in C(Tyr) and in C(Phe) differ only marginally from those values of other lysines in these dynamic peptides. Our experimental results with dynamic peptide systems highlight the role of cation-pi interactions in both intermolecular recognition at the protein-protein interface and intramolecular processes such as protein folding.     

Self-assembled heterotrimeric collagen triple helices directed through electrostatic interactions

Collagen, a fibrous protein, is an essential structural component of all connective tissues such as cartilage, bones, ligaments, and skin. Type I collagen, the most abundant form, is a heterotrimer assembled from two identical alpha1 chains and one alpha2 chain. However, most synthetic systems have addressed homotrimeric triple helices. In this paper we examine the stability of several heterotrimeric collagen-like triple helices with an emphasis on electrostatic interactions between peptides. We synthesize seven 30 amino acid peptides with net charges ranging from -10 to +10. These peptides were mixed, and their ability to form heterotrimers was assessed. We successfully show the assembly of five different AAB heterotrimers and one ABC heterotrimer. The results from this study indicate that intermolecular electrostatic interactions can be utilized to direct heterotrimer formation. Furthermore, amino acids with poor stability in collagen triple helices can be "rescued" in heterotrimers containing amino acids with known high triple helical stability. This mechanism allows collagen triple helices to have greater chemical diversity than would otherwise be allowed.     

Rational design of single-composition ABC collagen heterotrimers

Design of heterotrimeric ABC collagen triple helices is challenging due to the large number of competing species that may be formed. Given the required one amino acid stagger between adjacent peptide strands in this fold, a ternary mixture of peptides can form as many as 27 triple helices with unique composition or register. Previously we have demonstrated that electrostatic interactions can be used to bias the helix population toward a desired target. However, homotrimeric assemblies have always remained the most thermally stable species in solution and therefore comprised a significant component of the peptide mixture. In this work we incorporate complementary modifications to this triple-helical design strategy to destabilize an undesirable competing state while compensating for this destabilization in the desired ABC composition. The result of these modifications is a new ABC triple-helical system with high thermal stability and control over composition, as observed by NMR. An additional set of modifications, which exchanges aspartate for glutamate, results in an overall lowering of stability of the ABC triple helix yet shows further improvement in the system's specificity. This rationally designed system helps to elucidate the rules governing the self-assembly of synthetic collagen triple helices and sheds light on the biological mechanisms of collagen assembly.     

Mixed dimer and mixed trimer complexes of nBuLi and a chiral lithium amide

Multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy have shown that lithium (S)-N-isopropyl-O-methyl-valinol (1-[6Li]) exists in a mixed 2:1 complex with nBu[6Li], (1-[6Li])2/nBu[6Li], in non-coordinating solvents such as hexane or toluene. A 6Li,1H-HOESY NMR spectrum indicates that the complex is a cyclic trimer with a large distance between the di-coordinated lithium and the carbanion of nBu[6Li]. Such arrangements are present in the solid state as previously reported by Williard and Sun. The exchange of lithium atoms within the trimer is slow at -33 degrees C. The exchange barrier (deltaG++) was determined to be 14.7 kcal x mol(-1) from quantitative 6Li,6Li-EXSY spectra. Addition of diethyl ether results in the formation of mixed dimers of (1-[6Li])/nBu[6Li], tetramers of nBu[6Li], and homodimers (1-[6Li])2. The apparent equilibrium constant of the mixed dimer was determined from the 6Li NMR integrals as K = 7.     

Synthetic collagen heterotrimers: structural mimics of wild-type and mutant collagen type I

Collagen type I is an AAB heterotrimer assembled from two alpha1 chains and one alpha2 chain. Missense mutations in either of these chains that substitute a glycine residue in the ubiquitous X-Y-Gly repeat with a bulky amino acid leads to osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) of varying severity. These mutations have been studied in the past using collagen-like peptide homotrimers as a model system. However, homotrimers, which by definition will contain glycine mutations in all the three chains, do not accurately mimic the mutations in their native form and result in an exaggerated effect on stability and folding. In this article, we report the design of a novel model system based upon collagen-like heterotrimers that can mimic the glycine mutations present in either the alpha1 or alpha2 chains of type I collagen. This design utilizes an electrostatic recognition motif in three chains that can force the interaction of any three peptides, including AAA (all same), AAB (two same and one different), or ABC (all different) triple helices. Therefore, the component peptides can be designed in such a way that glycine mutations are present in zero, one, two, or all three chains of the triple helix. With this design, we for the first time report collagen mutants containing one or two glycine substitutions with structures relevant to native forms of OI. Furthermore, we demonstrate the difference in thermal stability and refolding half-life times between triple helices that vary only in the frequency of glycine mutations at a particular position.     

Peptide tic-tac-toe: heterotrimeric coiled-coil specificity from steric matching of multiple hydrophobic side chains

Specific coiled-coil heterotrimers result from steric matching of hydrophobic core side chains. A 2:1 heterotrimer is formed by peptides containing alanine or cyclohexylalanine, respectively, at a central core residue. Detailed thermodynamic analysis reveals that the designed complex is considerably more stable than the corresponding alanine homotrimer (deltaT(m) = 25 degrees C, deltadeltaG(unf) = 4.5 kcal/mol), while control complexes with naphthylalanine or cyclopropylalanine peptides are much less stable. However, the cyclohexylalanine homotrimer is of comparable stability to the 2:1 complex, prompting an investigation of multiply substituted peptides. A specific 1:1:1 heterotrimer is formed from three independent peptide strands, each bearing one large (cyclohexylalanine) and two small (alanine) side chains at the same three core positions but in different order. The combined impact of three substitutions improves specificity to the point where each pure peptide and all pairwise equimolar mixtures form significantly less stable complexes (deltaTm = 22-24 degrees C). The capacity for specific complex formation governed by multiple unnatural core side chains should facilitate design of numerous new peptide assemblies.     

Computational design of a collagen A:B:C-type heterotrimer

We have successfully designed an A:B:C collagen peptide heterotrimer using an automated computational approach. The algorithm maximizes the energy gap between the target and competing misfolded states while enforcing a minimum target stability. Circular dichroism (CD) measurements confirm that all three peptides are required to form a stable, structured triple helix. This study highlights the power of automated computational design, providing model systems to probe the biophysics of collagen assembly and developing general methods for the design of fibrous proteins.     

基于星型杂臂环糊精聚合物的纳米胶束: 构筑及包合特性

通过胺化反应和原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP),合成了以β-环糊精为“核”,以1条聚乙二醇和2~4条聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺为“臂”的双亲水性星型杂臂聚合物(MPEG-CD-PNIPAMx)。通过1H NMR,13C NMR和凝胶渗透色谱/多角度激光光散射联用(SEC/MALLS)对其结构进行了表征。对1H NMR峰面积积分计算得聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺“臂”数为2~4。通过紫外-可见分光光度计测得该星型大分子的较低溶液临界温度(LCST)为37℃。MPEG-CD-PNIPAMx在其水溶液温度达到LCST以上时呈现两亲性,并通过疏水相互作用自组装成以聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺为“核”,以β-环糊精及聚乙二醇为“壳”的纳米级胶束粒子。通过MPEG-CD-PNIPAMx及其胶束粒子在芘溶液中的荧光光谱,发现胶束粒子对疏水性客体小分子的包合可发生在处于壳层的β-环糊精的疏水性空腔和胶束粒子的疏水性内核。     

Phenylene Ethynylene‐Tethered Perylene Bisimide Folda‐Dimer and Folda‐Trimer: Investigations on Folding Features in Ground and Excited States

In this work, we have elucidated in detail the folding properties of two perylene bisimide (PBI) foldamers composed of two and three PBI units, respectively, attached to a phenylene ethynylene backbone. The folding behaviors of these new PBI folda‐dimer and trimer have been studied by solvent‐dependent UV/Vis absorption and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, revealing facile folding of both systems in tetrahydrofuran (THF). In CHCl₃ the dimer exists in extended (unfolded) conformation, whereas partially folded conformations are observed in the trimer. Temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies in [D₈]THF revealed intramolecular dynamic processes for both PBI foldamers due to, on the one hand, hindered rotation around C?N imide bonds and, on the other hand, backbone flapping; the latter process being energetically more demanding as it was observed only at elevated temperature. The structural features of folded conformations of the dimer and trimer have been elucidated by different 2D‐NMR spectroscopy (e.g., ROESY and DOSY) in [D₈]THF. The energetics of folding processes for the PBI dimer and trimer have been assessed by calculations applying various methods, particularly the semiempirical PM6‐DH2 and the more sophisticated B97D approach, in which relevant dispersion corrections are included. These calculations corroborate the results of NMR spectroscopic studies. Folding features in the excited states of these PBI foldamers have been characterized by using time‐resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy in THF and CHCl₃, exhibiting similar solvent‐dependent behavior as observed for the ground state. Interestingly, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process from electron‐donating backbone to electron‐deficient PBI core for extended, but not for folded, conformations was observed, which can be explained by a fast relaxation of excited PBI stacks in the folded conformation into fluorescent excimer states.     

Polar networks control oligomeric assembly in membranes

Polar interactions have a profound influence on membrane stability and structure. A membrane-solubilized GCN4 peptide, MS-1, is used to study the impact of polar networks. Amide functionalities from amino acid side chains have been shown to promote peptide oligomerization, but lacked specificity. Herein, the hydrogen bonding interactions of an Asn side chain are coupled with the hydroxyl of Ser or Thr to generate a polar network. Analytical ultracentrifugation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies indicate that a trimer assembly is established where each membrane-embedded hydrogen bond contributes 1 kcal mol-1.     

Conformational dynamics accompanying the proteolytic degradation of trimeric collagen I by collagenases

Collagenases are the principal enzymes responsible for the degradation of collagens during embryonic development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. However, the mechanism by which these enzymes disrupt the highly chemically and structurally stable collagen triple helix remains incompletely understood. We used a single-molecule magnetic tweezers assay to characterize the cleavage of heterotrimeric collagen I by both the human collagenase matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum. We observe that the application of 16 pN of force causes an 8-fold increase in collagen proteolysis rates by MMP-1 but does not affect cleavage rates by Clostridium collagenase. Quantitative analysis of these data allows us to infer the structural changes in collagen associated with proteolytic cleavage by both enzymes. Our data support a model in which MMP-1 cuts a transient, stretched conformation of its recognition site. In contrast, our findings suggest that Clostridium collagenase is able to cleave the fully wound collagen triple helix, accounting for its lack of force sensitivity and low sequence specificity. We observe that the cleavage of heterotrimeric collagen is less force sensitive than the proteolysis of a homotrimeric collagen model peptide, consistent with studies suggesting that the MMP-1 recognition site in heterotrimeric collagen I is partially unwound at equilibrium.     

1,6-六亚甲基二异氰酸酯自聚产物的结构表征

用IR与NMR表征了用醋酸钾为催化剂时 1,6 六亚甲基二异氰酸酯 (HDI)自聚产物的结构 .结果表明 ,自聚主产物是三聚体异氰脲酸酯 ,主要含有三聚体异氰脲基、异氰酸根 ,同时含有由杂质带来的微量氨基甲酸酯、脲基甲酸酯基、取代脲基、缩二脲基 .一维核磁谱及二维化学位移相关谱分辨出 7种羰基 ,一种NCO基 ,确定了氮上 8种不同取代结构的分子链连接情况 .通过建立理论模型 ,定量地描述了自聚产物的结构 .     

Structure of gramicidin a in a lipid bilayer environment determined using molecular dynamics simulations and solid-state NMR data

Two different high-resolution structures recently have been proposed for the membrane-spanning gramicidin A channel: one based on solid-state NMR experiments in oriented phospholipid bilayers (Ketchem, R. R.; Roux, B.; Cross, T. A. Structure 1997, 5, 1655-1669; Protein Data Bank, PDB:1MAG); and one based on two-dimensional NMR in detergent micelles (Townsley, L. E.; Tucker, W. A.; Sham, S.; Hinton, J. F. Biochemistry 2001, 40, 11676-11686; PDB:1JNO). Despite overall agreement, the two structures differ in peptide backbone pitch and the orientation of several side chains; in particular that of the Trp at position 9. Given the importance of the peptide backbone and Trp side chains for ion permeation, we undertook an investigation of the two structures using molecular dynamics simulation with an explicit lipid bilayer membrane, similar to the system used for the solid-state NMR experiments. Based on 0.1 micros of simulation, both backbone structures converge to a structure with 6.25 residues per turn, in agreement with X-ray scattering, and broad agreement with SS backbone NMR observables. The side chain of Trp 9 is mobile, more so than Trp 11, 13, and 15, and undergoes spontaneous transitions between the orientations in 1JNO and 1MAG. Based on empirical fitting to the NMR results, and umbrella sampling calculations, we conclude that Trp 9 spends 80% of the time in the 1JNO orientation and 20% in the 1MAG orientation. These results underscore the utility of molecular dynamics simulations in the analysis and interpretation of structural information from solid-state NMR.     

Resveratrol oligomers and their O-glucosides from Cotylelobium lanceolatum

Three new resveratrol oligomers, cotylelophenol C (1) (resveratrol tetramer) and cotylelosides A (2) and B (3) (O-glucosides of resveratrol trimer), together with four known glucosides of resveratrol oligomers (vaticasides A, B, C, D) and piceid, were isolated from an acetone soluble part of stem of Cotylelobium lanceolatum (Dipterocarpaceae). The structures of new compounds were determined by spectral data analysis. The characteristic properties observed in the NMR spectra of 1 were also discussed.     

Ligands rock & roll: stepwise twisting of two cis-coordinated lopsided N-heterocycles in an octahedral bis(2-phenylazopyridine)-ruthenium(II) complex with seven atropisomers

1H NMR data of alpha-[Ru(azpy)2(MeBim)2](PF6)2 (azpy=2-phenylazopyridine, MeBim=1-methylbenzimidazole), 2, revealed the presence of a total of seven atropisomers at -95 degrees C: three head-to-tail, HT, isomers (A, C, and D), and four head-to-head, HH, isomers which, due to the presence of an intrinsic C2 axis in the alpha-[Ru(azpy)2] moiety, are two sets of identical pairs (B/B and E/E). The NMR data of 2 represent a unique example of a coordination compound that shows a variable temperature (VT) behavior with more, well-defined steps of slow-to-fast exchange of its atropisomers. At 65 degrees C, all atropisomers are in fast exchange; on lowering the temperature the sharp signals first broaden (at room temperature) and consecutively split up into two sets of relatively sharp signals, in slow exchange, at about 0 degrees C (D, 40 %, and the coalesced signals of ABBCEE, 60 %). Upon further cooling, the set of peaks belonging to D remain sharp until the lowest recording temperatures. The signals of the other set of resonances, on the other hand, first broaden again and then separate into two sets of broad peaks (C/E/E and A) and one set of sharp peaks (B and B in fast exchange); on lowering the temperature even more, these signals broaden once again and finally, at -95 degrees C, are split up into a total of four sets of signal (A, B/B, C, and E/E). At low temperatures, ROESY experiments revealed that atropisomerization occurs through the synchronous rotation of both MeBim ligands in the interconversion of the two "identical" HH atropisomers B and B, as well as in the interconversion between C and E/E. The HH rotamers B/B furthermore exhibit a slow-to-fast exchange atropisomerization behavior that is observed independently from the other dynamic processes in this compound. The versatile cis bifunctional binding of the DNA model bases (MeBim ligands) in 2 parallels the observation of alpha-[Ru(azpy)2Cl2] which shows extraordinarly high cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines.     

Designed high affinity Cu2+-binding alpha-helical foldamer

The design, synthesis, and characterization of a folded high-affinity metal-binding peptide is described. Based on the previously described folded peptide NTH-18, in which an alpha-helix was constrained through two disulfide bonds to a C-terminal extension of noncanonical secondary structure, a peptide (1) was designed to contain two histidine residues in positions 3 and 7. Air oxidation of 1 led to the formation of peptide 2, which contained two intramolecular disulfide bonds. The presence of the two histidines significantly destabilized the alpha-helical structure of 2 when compared to NTH-18. However, CD spectroscopy revealed that the addition of certain transition metal ions allowed the reformation of a stable alpha-helix. CD, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy as well as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated that 2 bound to Cu2+ to form a 1:1 complex via the imidazoles of the two histidine side chains. A glycine displacement assay revealed a dissociation constant for this complex of 5 nM at pH 8, which is the lowest reported value for a designed Cu2+-binding peptide. This peptide displayed more than 100-fold selectivity for Cu2+ over Zn2+, Ni2+, and Co2+. The 1.05 A crystal structure of the Cu(II)-complex of 2 revealed a square-pyramidal coordination geometry and confirmed that 2 bound to copper in an alpha-helical conformation via its two histidine side chains. The high affinity metal binding of peptide 2 demonstrates that metals can be used for the selective nucleation of alpha-helices.