Conformational studies of copoly (N 5-ω-hydroxyalkyl-L-glutamine-L-glutamic acid)s

Copoly (α-amino acid)s consisting ofL-glutamic acid residue andN ⁵-ω hydroxyalkyl-L-glutamine residue, i.e., 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, and di-2-hydroxyethyl derivatives were prepared by the reactions of copoly (L-glutamic acid) containing succinimide ester with corresponding amino alcohols. The conformation of these copolymers was examined by the CD and infrared measurements. These three copolymers containing about 20–30% hydroxyalkyl groups undergo a methanol-induced and a pH-induced conformational transitions. The copolymer containing about 50% 3-hydroxypropyl group assumes the α-helical conformation in the pH region from 2.5 to 11.6, and in a methanol-water mixture (9∶1). On the other hand, the copolymer containing about 60% di-2-hydroxyethyl groups does not allow any helical conformation even at lower pH and also even in a trifluoroethanol-water mixture (9∶1), suggesting that the branched hydroxyalkyl group is unfavorable for the formation of α-helix. Furthermore, the poly(N ⁵-di-2-hydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) is shown to have a rather disordered structure in the solid state.