Peptide recognition: encapsulation and alpha-helical folding of a nine-residue peptide within a hydrophobic dimeric capsule of a bowl-shaped host

Chemistry. 2006 Apr 12;12(12):3211-7. doi: 10.1002/chem.200501424.

Abstract

A dimeric capsule of coordination bowl 1 encapsulated a nine-residue peptide (Trp-Ala-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Glu-Ala-Trp; 2) within the large hydrophobic cavity in water, and stabilized the alpha-helical conformation of bound 2. An NMR titration experiment revealed that monomeric bowl 1 recognized two Trp residues at the both terminals of 2 through 1/2 = 1:1 to 2:1 complexation. The 1:1 and 2:1 species exist in equilibrium even in the presence of excess 1. It was found that the formation of the 2:1 complex, in which two bowls of 1 wrapped the whole of 2, became dominant by the addition of NaNO3 due to the fact that the enhanced ion strength increased the hydrophobic interaction between Trp residues and the cavity of 1. The alpha-helical conformation of 2 within the dimeric capsule of 1 was elucidated from detailed NOESY analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimerization
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Oligopeptides
  • Organometallic Compounds