A pseudo α-helix from poly(α-isobutyl-L-aspartate), a nylon-3 derivative

Autor: José María Fernández-Santín, Joan Aymamí, Juan A. Subirana, Sebastián Muñoz-Guerra, A. Rodriguez-Galan
Rok vydání: 1984
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nature. 311:53-54
ISSN: 1476-4687
0028-0836
DOI: 10.1038/311053a0
Popis: Derivatives of nylon-3, with the general formula given in Fig. 1, crystallize as extended chains, producing sheets similar to those found in polypeptides in the β-conformation1–3. Nylon-3 itself (R=H, poly-β-alanine) crystallizes as extended chains4. However, given the similarity of the chemical structure, we decided to search for conformations related to the α-helix in this type of compounds. We show here that the nylon-3 derivative poly(α-isobutyl-L-aspartate) can adopt a helical structure similar to an α-helix. The turn has 3.25 residues, equicalent to 13 main chain atoms, whereas the α-helix has 10.8 atoms per turn. This is the first time that a helical structure has been observed in a polyamide, other than in the conventional polypeptides and proteins.
Databáze: OpenAIRE