Nucleation of beta-hairpin structures with cis amide bonds in E-vinylogous proline-containing peptides

Synthesis and conformational studies of peptides containing the E-vinylogous prolines 1 (VPro1) and 2 (VPro2), Boc-Ala-Val-VPro1-Xaa-Leu-OMe (3, Xaa = Gly; 4, Xaa = Phe), Boc-Ala-Val-VPro2-Xaa-Leu-OMe (5, Xaa = Gly; 6, Xaa = Phe), Boc-Leu-Ile-Val-VPro1-Xaa-Leu-OMe (7, Xaa = Gly; 8, Xaa = Phe), and Boc-Leu-Ile-Val-VPro2-Xaa-Leu-OMe (9, Xaa = Gly; 10, Xaa = Phe), were carried out. It has been shown that both VPro1 and VPro2 lead to the formation of 12-membered intramolecularly hydrogen bonded structures very similar to type VI beta-turns with a cis Xaa-VPro amide bond in the major conformers in all the peptides 3-10, resulting in the nucleation of beta-hairpin type structures in these molecules in CDCl(3).     

Competitive formation of 10- and 7-membered hydrogen-bonded rings of proline-containing model peptides

Intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded structures of proline-containing model peptides with a sequence of N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-prolyl-Xaa-NHCH3 [Xaa = Gly (glycyl), Ala (alanyl), Phe (phenylalanyl), Leu (leucyl), Ile (isoleucyl), and Val (valyl)] were studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. Variation of chemical shifts of amide protons with composition change of DMSO-d6/CDCl3 mixed solvents were found to be a good measure of intramolecular hydrogen bonding of peptides in CDCl3 solution. It has been shown that 10- and 7-membered hydrogen-bonded rings, which should have the beta- and gamma-turn like structures in proteins, respectively, form competitively with each other. It is suggested that the equilibrium between the two hydrogen-bonded rings is determined by steric hindrance due to a side chain of the Xaa residue. Free energies for formation of the 10- and 7-membered hydrogen-bonded rings, deltaG10 and deltaG7, were estimated from the solvent composition-dependent change of the chemical shifts. A good correlation between deltaG10 and the occurrence frequencies of residues Xaa at the (i + 2)th position for the beta-turns in proteins has been found.     

Induced axial chirality in the biphenyl core of the proatropoisomeric, C alpha-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acid residue Bip in peptides

An induced axial chirality in the biphenyl core of the 2',1':1,2;1',2':3,4-dibenzcyclohepta-1,3-diene-6-amino-6-carboxylic acid (Bip) residue, a conformationally labile, atropoisomeric, C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acid, was observed by CD and (1)H NMR spectroscopic techniques in the linear dipeptides Boc-Bip-Xaa*-OMe where Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl, OMe=methoxy, and Xaa*=D- and/or L-Ala, -Val, -Leu, -Phe, -(alphaMe)Val and -(alphaMe)Leu. Chiral induction was significantly lower in the isomeric dipeptides Boc-Xaa*-Bip-OMe, with the Xaa* residue located at the N-terminus of Bip, as well as in the cyclic dipeptide cyclo-[Bip-L-Ala]. The results obtained in solution were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of a crystalline sample of Boc-(R)-Bip-D-Ala-OMe.     

Structural consequences of metal complexation of cyclo[Pro-Phe-Phe-Ala-Xaa]2 decapeptides

The conformational features of both free and Ca2+-complexed cyclo[Pro-Phe-Phe-Ala-Xaa]2 (with Xaa= Glu(OtBu), Lys(CIZ), Leu, and Ala) in solution have been determined by NMR spectroscopy and extensive distance-geometry calculations. The decapeptides are conformationally homogeneous in solution and show common structural features in their free and complexed forms. The structures of the free form contain only trans peptide bonds and are topologically similar to the structure of gramicidin-S, folded up in two antiparallel extended structures, stabilized by interstrand hydrogen bonds, and closed at both ends by two beta-turns. In contrast, the Ca2+-complexed peptides present two cis peptide bonds and are generally similar to those observed for the metal-complexed forms of antamanide and related analogues, folded into a saddle shape with two beta-turns. The Glu(OtBu)-, Leu-, and Lys(ClZ)-containing peptides examined here maintain the biological activity of the cyclolinopeptide A in their ability to competitively inhibit cholate uptake. The natural antamanide and cyclolinopeptide A are both able to inhibit the uptake of bile salts into hepatocytes. They share the same postulated active sequence Pro-Phe-Phe. Based on our structural results, we conclude that the ability to adopt a global conformation, characterized by a clear amphipathic separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, is an important feature for the functioning of this class of peptides.     

Effect of sequence on peptide geometry in 5-tert-butylprolyl type VI beta-turn mimics

The influence of sequence on turn geometry was examined by incorporating (2S,5R)-5-tert-butylproline (5-(t)BuPro) into a series of dipeptides and tetrapeptides. (2S,5R)-5-tert-Butylproline and proline were respectively introduced at the C-terminal residue of N-acetyl dipeptide N'-methylamides 1 and 2. The conformational analysis of these analogues was performed using NMR and CD spectroscopy as well as X-ray diffraction to examine the factors that control the prolyl amide (in this text, the term "prolyl amide" refers to the tertiary amide composed of the pyrrolidine nitrogen of the prolyl residue and the carbonyl of the N-terminal residue) equilibrium and stabilize type VI beta-turn conformation. The high cis-isomer population with aromatic residues N-terminal to proline was shown to result from a stacking interaction between the partial positive charged prolyl amide nitrogen and the aromatic pi-system as seen in the crystal structure of 1c. The effect of sequence on the prolyl amide equilibrium of 5-(t)BuPro-tetrapeptides (Ac-Xaa-Yaa-5-(t)BuPro-Zaa-XMe, 13 and 14) was studied by varying the amino acids at the Xaa, Yaa, and Zaa positions. High (>80%) cis-isomer populations were obtained with alkyl groups at the Xaa position, an aromatic residue at the Yaa position, and either an alanine or a lysine residue at the Zaa position of the 5-(t)BuPro-tetrapeptide methyl esters in water. Tetrapeptides Ac-Ala-Phe-5-(t)BuPro-Zaa-OMe (Zaa = Ala, Lys), 14d and 14f, with high cis-isomer content adopted type VIa beta-turn conformations as shown by their NMR and CD spectra. Although a pattern of amide proton temperature coefficient values indicative of a hairpin geometry was observed in peptides 14d and 14f, the value magnitudes did not indicate strong hydrogen bonding in water.     

Flexibility of "polyunsaturated fatty acid chains" and peptide backbones: A comparative ab initio study

The conformational properties of omega-3 type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) chains and their fragments were studied using Hartree-Fock (RHF/3-21G) and DFT (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) methods. Comparisons between a unit (U) fragment of the PUFA chain and a mono N-Ac-glycine-NHMe residue show that both structures have the same sequence of sp2-sp3-sp2 atoms. The flexibility of PUFA originates in the internal rotation about the above pairs of sigma bonds. Therefore, potential energy surfaces (PESs) were generated by a scan around the terminal dihedral angles (phi t1 and phi t2) as well as the phi 1 and psi 1 dihedrals of both 1U congeners (Me-CHCH-CH2-CHCHMe and MeCONH-CH2-CONHMe) at the RHF/3-21G level of theory. An interesting similarity was found in the flexibility between the cis allylic structure and the trans peptide models. A flat landscape can be seen in the cis 1U (hepta-2,5-diene) surface, implying that several conformations are expected to be found in this (PES). An exhaustive search carried out on the 1U and 2U models revealed that straight chain structures such as trans and cis beta (phi 1 approximately psi 1 approximately 120 degrees; phi 2 approximately psi 2 approximately -120 degrees) or trans and cis extended (phi 1 approximately psi 1 approximately phi 2 approximately psi 2 approximately 120 degrees) can be formed at the lowest energy of both isomers. However, forming helical structures, such as trans helix (phi 1 approximately -120 degrees, psi 1 approximately 12 degrees; phi 2 approximately -120 degrees, psi 2 approximately 12 degrees) or cis helix (phi 1 approximately -130 degrees, psi 1 approximately 90 degrees; phi 2 approximately -145 degrees, psi 2 approximately 90 degrees) will require more energy. These six conformations, found in 2U, were selected to construct longer chains such as 3U, 4U, 5U, and 6U to obtain the thermochemistry of secondary structures. The variation in the extension or compression of the chain length turned out to be a factor of 2 between the helical and nonhelical structures. The inside diameter of the "tube" of cis helix turned out to be 3.5 A after discounting the internal H atoms. Thermodynamic functions were computed at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d). The cis-trans isomerization energy of 1.7 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) unit(-1) for all structure pairs indicates that the conformer selection was consistent. A folding energy of 0.5 +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1) unit(-1) has been extracted from the energy comparison of the helices and most extended nonhelical structures. The entropy change associated with the folding (Delta S(folding)) is decreases faster with the degree of polymerization (n) for the cis than for the trans isomer. As a consequence, the linear relationships between (Delta G(folding)) and n for the cis and trans isomer crossed at about n = 3. This suggested that the naturally occurring cis isomer less ready to fold than the trans isomer since a greater degree of organization is exhibited by the cis isomer during the folding process. The result of this work leads to the question within the group additivity rule: could the method applied in our study of the folding of polyallylic hydrocarbons be useful in investigating the thermochemistry of protein folding?     

Direct evidence for CH···π interaction mediated stabilization of Pro-cisPro bond in peptides with Pro-Pro-aromatic motifs

Although weak interactions play subtle but important roles in dictating protein structures, their experimental detection is nontrivial. From NOE experiments we provide direct evidence for the presence of CH···π interaction, operational between the C(α)-H of the first Pro and the aromatic (Aro) side chain of Xaa, in a peptide series with the general sequence Ac-Pro-Pro-Xaa-NH(2). Indirect evidence of CH···π interaction is provided from ring current-induced upfield displacement of Pro(1) C(α)-H chemical shifts and restriction of side-chain (χ1) rotation of Xaa. A consequence of this interaction is the enhanced stability of the Pro-cisPro conformer in Ac-Pro-Pro-Xaa-NH(2) when Xaa is aromatic. The free energies associated with trans to cis transformation of the Pro-Pro moiety are 0.35, 0.59, 0.64, and 0.82 kcal/mol when Xaa is Tyr, Trp, Phe, and His (pH of 8.4), respectively. In comparison, the corresponding free energy is ～1.55 kcal/mol when Xaa is nonaromatic. The observed population of Pro-cisPro-His and the pH-induced perturbation of electron density of the His side chain were correlated, providing further evidence for a direct role of CH···π interaction in modulating the stability of Pro-cisPro population in Ac-Pro-Pro-Aro-NH(2). Our study establishes Pro-Pro-Aro to be a new sequence motif that can stabilize Pro-cisPro peptide bonds. This study not only identifies a new structurally biased sequence motif but also directly demonstrates the role played by CH···π interactions in subtly altering conformational preferences of three-residue peptide sequences with implications on the role played by cis-peptide bonds in unfolded proteins.     

Effect of 3-hydroxyproline residues on collagen stability

Collagen is an integral part of many types of connective tissue in animals, especially skin, bones, cartilage, and basement membranes. A fibrous protein, collagen has a triple-helical structure, which is comprised of strands with a repeating Xaa-Yaa-Gly sequence. l-Proline (Pro) and 4(R)-hydroxy-l-proline (4-Hyp) residues occur most often in the Xaa and Yaa positions. The 4-Hyp residue is known to increase markedly the conformational stability of a collagen triple helix. In natural collagen, a 3(S)-hydroxy-l-proline (3-Hyp) residue occurs in the sequence: 3-Hyp-4-Hyp-Gly. Its effect on collagen stability is unknown. Here, two host-guest peptides containing 3-Hyp are synthesized: (Pro-4-Hyp-Gly)(3)-3-Hyp-4-Hyp-Gly-(Pro-4-Hyp-Gly)(3) (peptide 1) and (Pro-4-Hyp-Gly)(3)-Pro-3-Hyp-Gly-(Pro-4-Hyp-Gly)(3) (peptide 2). The 3-Hyp residues in these two peptides diminish triple-helical stability in comparison to Pro. This destabilization is small when 3-Hyp is in the natural Xaa position (peptide 1). There, the inductive effect of its 3-hydroxyl group diminishes slightly the strength of the interstrand 3-HypC=O.H-NGly hydrogen bond. The destabilization is large when 3-Hyp is in the nonnatural Yaa position (peptide 2). There, its pyrrolidine ring pucker leads to inappropriate mainchain dihedral angles and interstrand steric clashes. Thus, the natural regioisomeric residues 3-Hyp and 4-Hyp have distinct effects on the conformational stability of the collagen triple helix.     

Rules for the design of aza-glycine stabilized triple-helical collagen peptides

The stability of the triple-helical structure of collagen is modulated by a delicate balance of effects including polypeptide backbone geometry, a buried hydrogen bond network, dispersive interfacial interactions, and subtle stereoelectronic effects. Although the different amino acid propensities for the Xaa and Yaa positions of collagen''s repeating (Glycine–Xaa–Yaa) primary structure have been described, our understanding of the impact of incorporating aza-glycine (azGly) residues adjacent to varied Xaa and Yaa position residues has been limited to specific sequences. Here, we detail the impact of variation in the Xaa position adjacent to an azGly residue and compare these results to our study on the impact of the Yaa position. For the first time, we present a set of design rules for azGly-stabilized triple-helical collagen peptides, accounting for all canonical amino acids in the Xaa and Yaa positions adjacent to an azGly residue, and extend these rules using multiple azGly residues. To gain atomic level insight into these new rules we present two high-resolution crystal structures of collagen triple helices, with the first peptoid-containing collagen peptide structure. In conjunction with biophysical and computational data, we highlight the critical importance of preserving the triple helix geometry and protecting the hydrogen bonding network proximal to the azGly residue from solvent. Our results provide a set of design guidelines for azGly-stabilized triple-helical collagen peptides and fundamental insight into collagen structure and stability.

Guidelines for incorporating aza-glycine residues in collagen peptides are presented, detailing their effects on triple-helical thermal stability.     

Stereoelectronic effects on collagen stability: the dichotomy of 4-fluoroproline diastereomers

Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals. Natural collagen consists of a triple helix of (Xaa-Yaa-Gly)n chains, in which the Xaa and Yaa residues are often l-proline. Here, a (2S,4S)-4-fluoroproline (flp) residue is shown to be greatly stabilizing in the Xaa position (but destabilizing in the Yaa position). In contrast, a (2S,4R)-4-fluoroproline (Flp) residue is shown to be greatly destabilizing in the Xaa position (but stabilizing in the Yaa position). The dichotomous effect of the diastereomers appears to arise from a gauche effect, which alters pyrrolidine ring pucker and hence properly (or improperly) preorganizes main-chain dihedral angles. Thus, the rational use of stereoelectronic effects can enhance the conformational stability of a protein.     

Factors affecting conformation in proline-containing peptides

[reaction: see text] NMR was used to study the thermodynamics of the cis --> trans isomerization for prolyl amide bonds in the compounds shown. The magnitude of K(t/c) for C-terminal esters is greater than for the corresponding amides, signifying stronger backbone stereoelectronic effects in esters. Increasing the steric bulk of the N-terminal residue from Ac- to Ac-Gly- favors the trans conformation. Incorporation of a Phe residue N-terminal to Pro, however, shifts the equilibrium in favor of the cis conformation, via a stabilizing aromatic-proline interaction.     

Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition/thermal fragmentation: formally "allowed" and "forbidden"pathways toward 5-8-5 ring systems

The thermal fragmentation of highly functionalized, linear polycyclobutanes with a cis,syn,cis-relative stereochemistry is shown to offer a rapid entry into the dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctenyl (5-8-5) ring system. The thermolysis of polyfused cyclobutanes with a cis,syn,cis- or a cis,anti,cis-relationship proceeds in a formally "symmetry-allowed" manner through the intermediacy of a cis,trans-cyclooctadiene. When a bridging tether used to establish the cis,syn,cis-stereochemistry in the intramolecular [2 + 2] photocyclization is present in the thermolysis step, however, the result of a formally "symmetry-forbidden" fragmentation is observed yielding cis,cis-cyclooctadiene-containing 5-8-5 products. In general, the stereochemical observations noted in these fragmentations offer new opportunities for accessing a variety of stereochemical relationships in these 5-8-5 ring systems.     

Alpha-gamma hybrid peptides that contain the conformationally constrained gabapentin residue: characterization of mimetics of chain reversals

The crystal structures of four dipeptides that contain the stereochemically constrained gamma-amino acid residue gabapentin (1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid Gpn) are described. The molecular conformation of Piv-Pro-Gpn-OH (1), reveals a beta-turn mimetic conformation, stabilized by a ten atom C[bond]H...O hydrogen bond between the Piv CO group and the pro S hydrogen of the Gpn CH(2)[bond]CO group. The peptides Boc-Gly-Gpn-OH (2), Boc-Aib-Gpn-OH (3), and Boc-Aib-Gpn-OMe (4) form compact, folded structures, in which a distinct reversal of polypeptide chain direction is observed. In all cases, the Gpn residue adopts a gauche,gauche (g,g) conformation about the C(gamma)[bond]C(beta) (theta(1)) and C(beta)[bond]C(alpha) (theta(2)) bonds. Two distinct Gpn conformational families are observed. In peptides 1 and 3, the average backbone torsion angle values for the Gpn residue are phi=98 degrees, theta(1)=-62 degrees, theta(2)=-73 degrees, and psi=79 degrees, while in peptide 2 and 4 the average values are phi=-103 degrees, theta(1)=-46 degrees, theta(2)=-49 degrees, and psi=-92 degrees. In the case of 1 and 3, an intramolecular nine-membered O[bond]H...O hydrogen bond is formed between the C[double bond]O of the preceding residue and the terminal carboxylic acid OH group. All four alpha-gamma dipeptide sequences yield compact folded backbone conformations; this suggests that the Gpn residue may be employed successfully in the design of novel folded structures.     

Nucleation of β-hairpin structure in a pyrrole amino acid containing peptide

Synthesis and conformational studies of two short peptides containing pyrrole amino acids (1, Paa), Boc-Paa-Paa-d-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Paa-Paa-OMe (2: Xaa=Ala; 3: Xaa=Val), were carried out in which it was established that replacement of Ala in 2 with a Val residue helps peptide 3 to adopt a well-defined β-hairpin conformation in a nonpolar solvent, like CDCl₃.     

Beta-Ala containing peptides: potentials in design and construction of bioactive peptides and protein secondary structure mimics

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in de novo design and construction of novel synthetic peptides that mimic protein secondary structures, i.e., turns, helices and sheets. The unique structural influences exerted by unsubstituted, non-coded, non-chiral beta-amino acid, i.e., beta-alanine (beta-Ala; 3- or beta- aminopropionic acid) on peptide backbone, when inserted into peptide chain comprised alpha-amino acids, offer an excellent opportunity to design and construct diverse well-defined three-dimensional structures. Our current understanding of folding-unfolding behavior of the beta-Ala residues relies primarily from an examination of conformational preferences of a large number of short cyclic- as well as acyclic beta-Ala containing peptides investigated using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, theoretical conformational energy calculations and different spectroscopic techniques: 1H NMR, FT-IR and CD, have also been employed although, to a lesser extent. The obtainable results tend to reveal overwhelming preferences of the beta-Ala moiety for the folded gauche (mu approximately +/-65+/-10 degrees conformation in cyclic- and for an extended trans (mu approximately +/-165+/-10 degrees) as well as gauche (mu approximately +/-65+/-10 degrees) orientations in acyclic beta-Ala containing peptides. The results also indicate that in short linear beta-Ala containing peptides, the specific influence of selective neighboring side-chain substituents e.g. linear- or cyclic symmetrically C(alpha,alpha)-disubstituted glycines and other conformational constraints, may be significant in controlling the overall folded-unfolded topographical features across the two methylene units (-CbetaH2-CalphaH2-) of the beta-Ala residue. Taking into consideration the wide occurrence of beta-Ala moiety in animal and plant kingdoms and the remarkable structural versatility of the peptides incorporating beta-Ala residue(s), together with appreciable resistance towards enzymatic degradation, hold strong promise for biophysicists and biochemists not only to design molecules that fold to mimic protein secondary structures but also to develop potent peptide analogs and peptidomimetics displaying unique pharmaceutical properties.     

Proline editing: a divergent strategy for the synthesis of conformationally diverse peptides

[reaction: see text] Strong conformational biases in peptides and proteins can be achieved with 4-substituted proline residues (cis-, trans-, or disubstituted fluoroproline or hydroxyproline). The practical, divergent synthesis of peptides containing these residues, via postsynthetic modification of a peptide containing an internal trans-hydroxyproline residue, is described. Significant differences in the conformations of the peptides Ac-TYXN-NH2 were observed, including K(trans/cis) values, which varied from 1.5 (X = cis-fluoroproline) to 7.0 (X = trans-fluoroproline).     

Comparison of ab initio and DFT electronic structure methods for peptides containing an aromatic ring: effect of dispersion and BSSE

We establish that routine B3LYP and MP2 methods give qualitatively wrong conformations for flexible organic systems containing pi systems and that recently developed methods can overcome the known inadequacies of these methods. This is illustrated for a molecule (a conformer of the Tyr-Gly dipeptide) for which B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and MP2/6-31+G(d) geometry optimizations yield strikingly different structures [Mol. Phys. 2006, 104, 559-570]: MP2 predicts a folded "closed-book" conformer with the glycine residue located above the tyrosine ring, whereas B3LYP predicts a more open conformation. By employing different levels of theory, including the local electron correlation methods LMP2 (local MP2) and LCCSD(T0) (local coupled cluster with single, double, and noniterative local triple excitations) and large basis sets (aug-cc-pVnZ, n=D, T, Q), it is shown that the folded MP2 minimum is an artifact caused by large intramolecular BSSE (basis set superposition error) effects in the MP2/6-31+G(d) calculations. The B3LYP functional gives the correct minimum, but the potential energy apparently rises too steeply when the glycine and tyrosine residues approach each other, presumably due to missing dispersion effects in the B3LYP calculations. The PWB6K and M05-2X functionals, designed to give good results for weak interactions, remedy this to some extent. The reduced BSSE in the LMP2 calculations leads to faster convergence with increasing basis set quality, and accurate results can be obtained with smaller basis sets as compared to canonical MP2. We propose LMP2 as a suitable method to study interactions with pi-electron clouds.     

Unexpectedly fast cis/trans isomerization of Xaa-Pro peptide bonds in disulfide-constrained cyclic peptides

Acyclic dithiol and cyclic disulfide forms of the peptides Ac-Cys-Pro-Xaa-Cys-NH2 (Xaa = Phe, His, Tyr, Gly, and Thr) and Ac-Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys-NH2 and the peptide Ac-Ala-Gly-Pro-Ala-NH2 were synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Rate constants kct and ktc for cis-to-trans and trans-to-cis isomerization, respectively, across the Cys-Pro or Gly-Pro peptide bonds were determined by magnetization transfer NMR techniques over a range of temperatures, and activation parameters were derived from the temperature dependence of the rate constants. It was found that constraints imposed by the disulfide bond confer an unexpected rate enhancement for cis/trans isomerization, ranging from a factor of 2 to 13. It is proposed that the rate enhancements are a result of an intramolecular catalysis mechanism in which the NH proton of the Pro-Xaa peptide bond hydrogen bonds to the proline nitrogen in the transition state. The peptides Ac-Cys-Pro-Xaa-Cys-NH2 and Ac-Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys-NH2 are model compounds for proline-containing active sites of the thioredoxin superfamily of oxidoreductase enzymes; the results suggest that the backbones of the active sites of the oxidized form of these enzymes may have unusual conformational flexibility.     

A new molecular scaffold for the formation of supramolecular peptide double helices: the crystallographic insight

[structure: see text]. A series of water-soluble synthetic dipeptides (1-3) with an N-terminally located beta-alanine residue, beta-alanyl-l-valine (1), beta-alanyl-l-isoleucine (2), and beta-alanyl-l-phenylalanine (3), form hydrogen-bonded supramolecular double helices with a pitch length of 1 nm, whereas the C-terminally positioned beta-alanine containing dipeptide (4), l-phenylalanyl-beta-alanine, does not form a supramolecular double helical structure. beta-Ala-Xaa (Xaa = Val/Ile/Phe) can be regarded as a new motif for the formation of supramolecular double helical structures in the solid state.