Issue 8, 2020

Manipulating the helix–coil transition profile of synthetic polypeptides by leveraging side-chain molecular interactions

Abstract

Polypeptides with trigger-responsive helix–coil transition behaviours are interesting biomaterials due to their helix-specific assemblies and biomedical performances. Based on the pH-sensitive, conformationally switchable triazole polypeptides, we reported the manipulation of the helix–coil transition profile, which was determined by the combined molecular interactions of triazole and other side-chain functionalities. Specifically, the introduction of side-chain hydrophobic moieties or hydrogen bonding acceptors neutralized the helix-disrupting effect of side-chain triazoles, which altered the pH-responsive conformational transition profile of the polypeptides. These results inspired us to design new triazole polypeptides bearing dimethylamino side chains, which exhibited interesting helix–coil–helix transition behaviours as the pH decreased.

Graphical abstract: Manipulating the helix–coil transition profile of synthetic polypeptides by leveraging side-chain molecular interactions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
09 Dec 2019
Accepted
03 Feb 2020
First published
04 Feb 2020

Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 1445-1449

Author version available

Manipulating the helix–coil transition profile of synthetic polypeptides by leveraging side-chain molecular interactions

Z. Song, Z. Tan, X. Zheng, Z. Fu, E. Ponnusamy and J. Cheng, Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 1445 DOI: 10.1039/C9PY01857C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements