Self-assembly of α-helices to form rare two-dimensional square P4mm symmetry via silica mineralization

Yuan Yao; Dong Wang; Lu Han; Shunai Che

doi:10.1002/chem.201302627

Self-assembly of α-helices to form rare two-dimensional square P4mm symmetry via silica mineralization

Chemistry. 2013 Nov 11;19(46):15489-92. doi: 10.1002/chem.201302627. Epub 2013 Oct 15.

Authors

Yuan Yao¹, Dong Wang, Lu Han, Shunai Che

Affiliation

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240 (P.R. China).

PMID: 24130047
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201302627

Abstract

Space oddity: The synthesis of a polypeptide-silica complex with a rare two-dimensional square P4mm structure is reported. The electrostatic "zipping" of the interacting amino and carboxylate groups along the α-helices and the diagonal formation of the silica wall between the α-helices were optimal for the identical azimuthal orientation of α-helices toward 2D square P4mm structure, which generated a new polypeptide liquid crystal phase diagram.

Keywords: alpha-helix; electrostatic zipper; polypeptides; self-assembly; silica mineralization.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Minerals / chemistry*
Models, Molecular
Peptides / chemistry*
Protein Conformation
Protein Structure, Secondary
Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

Minerals
Peptides
Silicon Dioxide