Conformational effects on the electron-transfer efficiency in peptide foldamers based on alpha,alpha-disubstituted glycyl residues

Chem Biodivers. 2008 Jul;5(7):1263-78. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200890113.

Abstract

Peptide foldamers based on alpha,alpha-disubstituted glycyl residues were synthesized and chemically characterized to investigate the effects of the electric field generated by a 3(10)-helix on the rate of intramolecular photoinduced electron-transfer reactions. To this end, two new octapeptides having identical sequences were suitably side-chain functionalized with the same electron-transfer donor-acceptor pair, but inverting the position of the pair along the main chain. The electron-transfer rate constants, measured by time-resolved spectroscopy techniques (nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence), indicated that, in the case of the 3(10)-helix, the electrostatic effect is significant, but smaller than that obtained for alpha-helical peptides. This finding can be likely ascribed to the distortion of the H-bond network with respect to the helical axis taking place in the former secondary structure. Overall, these results could have implications on electron-transfer phenomena in model and biomembranes facilitated by peptaibiotics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminoisobutyric Acids / chemistry
  • Electron Transport*
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Peptaibols / chemistry
  • Protein Structure, Secondary*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Static Electricity
  • Valine / analogs & derivatives
  • Valine / chemistry

Substances

  • Aminoisobutyric Acids
  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptaibols
  • 2-methylnorvaline
  • Valine
  • Glycine