Biomacromolecules, Vol.8, No.2, 318-321, 2007
"Threading" of beta-sheet peptides via radical polymerization
A nonamer peptide containing a diene group in the center of the sequence was synthesized. When the peptide forms an antiparallel beta-sheet, the diene groups align ca. 5 A apart on the beta-sheet. The diene groups successfully photopolymerized without distorting the beta-sheet structure. The obtained beta-sheet showed high stability against acid denaturation and addition of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol.