期刊名称:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN:0027-8424
电子版ISSN:1091-6490
出版年度:1977
卷号:74
期号:8
页码:3208-3212
DOI:10.1073/pnas.74.8.3208
语种:English
出版社:The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要:Different conformations of polypeptides were characterized by measurements of the circular dichroism (CD) extended into the vacuum ultraviolet region. (i) The linear {beta}-pleated sheet structure was characterized in a broad ultraviolet region down to 165 nm by examination of copolypeptides composed of alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino-acid residues, e.g., poly(Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu). A short-wavelength intense band was found at about 169 nm, which is characteristic of {beta}-pleated sheet conformation. (ii) The {beta}-turns were experimentally measured using poly(Ala2-Gly2) in a broad spectral region down to 165 nm with accuracy. The observed CD spectrum is in excellent qualitative agreement with the theoretical curve calculated by Woody for the {beta}-turns of type II and/or I of Venkatachalam. The similarity in shape between the theoretical curve and the observed CD spectra suggests a dominance of {beta}-turn segments in the poly(Ala2-Gly2) structure. The presence of {beta}-turns in poly(Ala2-Gly2) is also in agreement with the characterization of this polypeptide by solid state methods (electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction). The CD spectrum of {beta}-turns is characterized by a very intense band at 207.5 nm and strong negative bands at 191 and 169 nm. Copolypeptides such as poly(Ala2-Gly3) and poly(Ala3-Gly3) yielded a similar type of CD spectrum, analysis of which indicates that a large fraction of their residues is contained in {beta}-turn regions. (iii) The CD spectrum of the unordered chain of these alternating copolypeptides in salt-free solution is observed in the vacuum ultraviolet region.