Library

Notes: A molecular model for the complex formed between the jack bean lectin concanavalin A (Con A) and glycopeptides of the complex biantennary class is described. The model was derived using coordinates for Con A determined by x-ray crystalographic refinement techniques, with 1.75-Å resolution data, and coordinates for the glycopeptides obtained from 1H-nmr measurements, using the nuclear Overhauser effect. Previous solution and crystallographic studies provided several constraints on the possible mode of interaction of the lectin and the glycopeptide. Examination of the model suggests that the glycopeptide binding site is defined by four loops on the protein surface made up by amino acid residues: 12-18, 98-102, 205-208, and 226-229. Within these loops, it favorable interactions with high-affinity ligands and tose responsible for the unfavourable interactions with poor ligands.

Notes: Peptide hormones and neurotransmitters are functional amphiphilic substances that deploy their chared and nonpolar substituents as required for traversing aqueous phases en rout to their ultimate transfer into the lipid-rich environment of their membrane-embedded receptors. As a means of determining the role(s)that cellular membrane lipids may play in mediating these events, we describe an experimental approach, using high-resolution 1H-and 13C-nmr spectroscopy, for delineation of the structures of complexes between the (neurotransmitter pentapeptide) enkephalins and micellar and vesicular phospholipid particles. Residue-specific enkephalin interactions with lipid are identified; affinity constants for the hydrophobic component(s) of peptide/lipid association are calculated for enkephalin and several of its analogs; and comparisons with morphine are presented. Finally, based on molecular details obtained from nmr experiments, a model is proposed for the encoutner of a peptide hormone with a phospholipid membrane surface.

Notes: Both (dC-dG)4 and d(CGCATGCG) crystallize in hexagonal lattices and their three-dimensional structure has been solved by x-ray diffraction analysis. Both molecules are found to form Z-DNA, although the fine details of the structure cannot be visualized due to the statistical disordering of the molecules along the c-axis, which is brought about by the symmetry constraints of the space group. This represents the first time in which the unmodified dinucleotide sequences CpAp and TpGp have been found to form Z-DNA in a crystalline lattice.

Notes: Differential melting curves (DMCs) of DNAs pA03 and pBR322 in solutions of different ionic strength (0.02 and 0.2M Na+) were obtained. A previously developed procedure of glyxal fixation of partially denatured DNA molecules at temperatures within the melting range was used to construct electron-microscopic melting maps for pBR322 and pAO3 plasmid DNA and for the replicative form of bacteriophage φX174 DNA, allowing the melting of these DNA molecules to be followed in solutions of low (0.1 × SSC) and high (1 × SSC) ionic strength. In spite of the fact that the melting was at nonequilibrium at the low ionic strength, the melting maps for the two kinds of solutions practically coincided. Experimental data are compared with theoretical calculations based on the Fixman-Freire algorithm. The conclusion is that the melting pattern of these DNAs is, on the whole, correctly described by the theory, although there are appreciable differences between the theoretical and experimental differential melting curves. We have also determined the relation between the melting temperature of a region and its GC content, with allowances made for the boundary conditions of melting in 0.1 × SSC and 1 × SSC solutions, and have analyzed the theoretical shape of peaks of the DMCs.

Notes: Electrostatic effects are believed to determine the molecular structure and function of macromolecules in many ways. In metallo-based enzymes and in metal-macromolecule interactions in solution, these effects may predominate. In order to tackle metal ion-nucleic acid interactions theoretically, we propose a modification of Debye's distance-dependent dielectric function first proposed more than 50 years ago. This function more closely approximates physical reality at small interatomic separations. Our theory yields a dielectric function that gives reasonable agreement with experimental data in preliminary calculations.

Notes: It is suggested that the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins is partly determined by a framework of strengthened hydrogen bonds that involves both ionic side chains and water molecules in addition to the polypeptide backbone. This conclusion follows from a combination of the results of ab initio molecular-orbital computations on small model molecules and high-accuracy x-ray data on the rubredoxin molecule. The computations yield the idea of hydrogen-bonded bridges that are built from tens of atoms, and the experimental information yields the idea that the bridges are assembled into clusters, each of which is built from hundreds of atoms. Some 10 such clusters then form a globular protein.

Notes: Monoclonal antibodies to different parts of bacteriorhodopsin were raised to define its topography in the membrane. It is shown that the amino acid residue Glu 194 is a part of an antigenic determinant and should be located on the membrane surface. We found that the removal of the C-terminal 17 amino acid sequence does not affect the efficiency of the proton transport in bacteriorhodopsin. From a combination of proteolysis and secondary structure prediction methods an experimentally testable structural model for bovine rhodopsin is presented. The complete amino acid sequence of the transducin γ-subunit consisting of 69 residues was determined.

Notes: Fluorescence and absorbance methods were used to study the interaction of daunomycin with calf-thymus DNA over a wide range of temperatures and NaCl concentrations. van't Hoff analysis provided estimates for the enthalpy of the binding reaction over the NaCl range of 0.05-1.0 M. Daunomycin binding is exothermic over this entire range, and the favorable binding free energy arises primarily from the large, negative enthalpy. Both the enthalpy change and entropy change are strong functions of ionic strength. Possible molecular contributions to the enthalpy and entropy are discussed, leading to the tentative conclusion that hydrogen-bonding interactions at the interacalation site are the primary contributors to the observed thermodynamic parameters. The dependence of the enthalpy on the ionic strength is well beyond the predictions of current polyelectrolyte theory and cannot be fully accounted for. The enthalpy and entropy changes observed compensate one another to produce relatively small free-energy changes over the range of solution conditions studied.

Notes: Mechanical creep and creep recovery in small shearing deformations have been studied in unligated clots formed with both thrombin and ancrod. In thrombin clots, both A binding sites (which interact with “a” sites to link monomer units within a protofibril) and B sites (which interact with “b” sites to form links between protofibrils) are exposed to enable formation of linkages; in ancrod clots, only the A sites are exposed. Fine clots (with minimal lateral aggregation of protofibrils), coarse clots (with substantial aggregation of fibril bundles), and clots of intermediate coarseness were compared. Fine thrombin clots showed less creep at short times but more creep at long times than coarse or intermediate clots and had more irrecoverable deformation relative to the initial elastic deformation. Ancrod clots had greater irrecoverable deformation than the corresponding thrombin clots, both fine and coarse. The permanent deformation in fine ancrod clots was enormous, corresponding almost to fluid character; the rate of permanent deformation was larger than that in fine thrombin clots by more than two orders of magnitude. For all types of clots, differential measurements of compliance (or its reciprocal, elastic modulus), as well as the applicability of the Boltzmann superposition principle to calculation of creep recovery, showed that the overall density of structure remained constant throughout the mechanical history; i.e., if structural elements were breaking, they were reforming at the same rate in different configurations. The possibility that the weakness of ancrod clots is attributable to partial degradation of α-chains rather than absence of Bb linkages was eliminated by comparisons of clots made with thrombin, ancrod, and ancrod plus thrombin; the last two showed identical partial degradation of α-chains (by gel electrophoresis), but the first and third had essentially identical initial elastic moduli and creep behavior. Two alternative mechanisms for irrecoverable deformation in fine clots are discussed, involving rupture of protofibrils and slippage of twisted segments, respectively.

Notes: Recently, it was suggested that parallel β-sheets have a significant dipole moment, in contrast to antiparallel sheets. Ab initio molecular-orbital (MO) calculations on parallel and antiparallel β-strands of tetra(Gly) show that they have very similar charge distributions. Interaction energies between two and three strands of tetra(Gly), obtained using the direct reaction field Hamiltonian, show that a particular choice of point charges is probably not crucial for calculating interactions within β-sheets, but that it might be for calculating interactions between these sheets and other parts of a protein, in particular, α-helices. The point-charge representation of our MO-SCF results will probably reduce the hazard of introducing artefacts in electrostatic calculations of protein conformational energies, provided the short-range interactions are treated in a more realistic way, i.e., such that intra- and interchain induction effects are included.

Notes: The pH and ionic strength dependence of conformation of the COOH-terminal fragment 206-316 (fragment FII) of thermolysin was monitored by far-uv CD and difference absorption measurements. This fragment was shown previously to possess the properties of a protein domain, i.e., able to refold into a stable nativelike structure [Fontana, A., Vita, C. & Chaiken, I. M. (1983) Biopolymers 22, 69-78]. Analysis of the CD spectra in the pH range of 1-12 indicated that near pH 1, the conformation of fragment FII appears to be in an intermediate state (H) between the fully unfolded one (U) [the guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn · HCl)-induced unfolded state] and the nativelike state (N - that attained at neutral pH). Quantitative analysis of secondary structure from CD spectra revealed that state H at 4°C is characterized by some 30% α-helical structure, compared to 47% for state N. The heat- and Gdn · HCl-mediated unfolding transitions of state H were fully reversible and characterized by little cooperativity, which is taken as an indication that state H corresponds to several species possessing different, and low, conformational stabilities. The midpoint transition from state H to N occurs near pH 2.5, implying that the acid transition results from the titration of carboxyl groups of the fragment with anomalously low pK, as would be expected for groups involved in specific salt bridges. Fragment FII at pH 1 (state H) may be induced to exhibit nearly the same degree of helicity of state N simply by increasing the ionic strength of the solution, thus reducing the repulsive interactions between positive charges within the highly charged fragment at pH 1. The results obtained emphasize the role of electrostatic interactions in the folding and stability of fragment FII and suggest a mechanism of folding of the fragment from U to N involving an intermediate state characterized by an assembly of fluctuating α-helices.

Notes: DNA supercoiling is both an interesting problem from the theoretical point of view and an important phenomenon affecting DNA functions in vivo. Experimentally, however, hardly more than the overall hydrodynamic shape, superhelical density, and enzymic or chemical reactivity of the parameters that are in some way related to DNA secondary and tertiary structure in the superhelical state can be determined. Consequently, it is highly desirable to build up models of DNA supercoiling that, on the one hand, match the above type of global data and, on the other, take advantage of the knowledge about DNA structure at lower levels of complexity, i.e., with linear DNA molecules and its synthetic models. One possible approach, presented here, deals with an extension of Fuller's and Benham's general ideas concerning an elastomechanical model of DNA supercoiling. We extend their model with an algorithm suitable for numerical calculations and construct a fast computer program, ROPASE, that displays the rod shapes as dependent on its elastic properties and applied stress. Development of this program made inevitable a detailed analysis of the input parameters found to be degenerate in the sense that not all of them should be considered variable to generate the whole set of possible solutions of the model. Many calculations were performed using ROPASE to test its properties and the properties of the elastomechanical model. Representative DNA shapes are presented.

Notes: The thermotropic behavior of lipid vesicles prepared from dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine in the presence of cytochrome c oxidase has been studied by highly sensitive differential scanning microcalorimetry. This protein has a remarkable effect on the gel-liquid crystalline transition of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine. In the presence of cytochrome c oxidase, the thermogram of the lipid vesicles exhibits a second endothermic peak, which is adjacent to the main lipid phase-transition peak and appears at a higher temperature. As the concentration of added protein increases, the two endothermic peaks become further separated, and the transition temperatures and the heats of transition corresponding to both endothermic peaks decrease. A greater decrease in the transition temperature at the lower-temperature peak with added protein suggests that the lower-temperature peak is more perturbed than the higher-temperature peak. The higher-temperature peak is not thermally reversible. Treatment of sample well above the transition temperature results in a reduction of the magnitude of the higher-temperature peak. The lipid-protein interaction contributing to the higher-temperature peak is discussed.

Notes: An intercalation model of a complex between DNA and a bleomycin fragment (BLMF), consisting of the bithiazole core and an amide and a protonated amino substituent, is presented. The model, which shows a preference for BLMF with the protonated amine in the minor groove and the acetyl terminal inserted into either the minor and major grooves, respectively, agrees with recently obtained nmr data. The selection of sites I and II, which have the smallest unwinding of the three theoretical intercalation sites, is consistent with the experimental unwinding angle of 12°. The bithiazole moiety stacks between two base pairs of the double helix, while the protonated substituent interacts ionically with the negatively charged regions of the backbone in the minor groove of the DNA. The protonated amine also forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen of the amide group on the same substituent. Analysis of drug complexes with different base-pair sequences reveal four energetically defined groups. The relative energy of the dimer duplex complexes of BLMF correlates with bleomycin's observed base-sequence specificity upon cleavage. The most stable intercalation complexes form adjacent to the bases cleaved most readily. This correlation suggests a primary connection between intercalation and cleavage. A model cleavage site based on these preliminary theoretical calculations and the experimental observations is proposed. It consists of an intercalation site in a trimer duplex. Pyrimidine(p)purine sequences are the predominant sites for intercalation, and the base adjacent to the site at the (3′) end is cleaved.

Notes: Boc-L-Leu-Aib-Pro-Val-Aib-Aib-Glu(OBzl)-Gln-Phl (Boc = t-butyloxycarbonyl, Aib = α-aminoisobutyric acid, Bzl = benzyl, Phl = phenylalaninol), C59H90N10O14, the protected C-terminal nonapeptide with the sequence 12-20 of alamethicin, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with a = 15.666, b = 16.192, c = 26.876 Å, and Z = 4. The molecular conformation is right-handed helical with three α-(5 → 1 hydrogen bonds) and three β-turns (4 → 1 hydrogen bonds). All but two of the hydrogen bonds are significantly longer than the usual value and show bifurcation to some extent. The α/310r-helical nonapeptide molecules are arranged head-to-tail along the a direction. The resulting linear antiparallel chains are linked by a weak intermolecular hydrogen bridge, thus forming a two-dimensional layer structure in the ab plane. The conformation of this nonapeptide is almost identical with that of the corresponding C-terminal part found by x-ray crystallography of the eicosapeptide alamethicin.

Notes: A newly designed host-guest approach is introduced as a experimental tool to explore the relationship between the sequence of peptides and their secondary structure. From the CD spectra of the host-guest peptides studied, a tentative scale for the α-helix potential in 2,2,2-trifluorethanol of guest amino acids is delineated. The conformational preferences are also examined in β-structure supporting media (solid state, CH2Cl2, CH3OH, H2O) using ir-absorption and CD techniques. Scales for the β-forming tendency of guest amino acid residues in the different media are delineated. It is shown that the preferred conformation of the host-guest peptides is a function of the medium, the chain length, and the protecting groups. Given the fact that conformational effects are important in peptide synthesis, the tentative scales may serve as a guideline to predict secondary structures of side-chain-protected or -deprotected peptides in a given solvent, complementing the well-known empirical conformational prediction parameters.

Notes: The interaction of CuCl2 with poly(S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine) (poly[Cys(CH2COOH)]) and poly(S-carboxyethyl-L-cysteine) (poly[Cys(C2H4COOH)]) were studied by absorption spectra and circular dichroism (CD). On mixing CuCl2 with polypeptide solutions, absorption bands appeared at 320-325 nm in both polypeptides, and at 255-260 nm in the case of poly[Cys(CH2COOH)]. A stable bound species was formed in the case of poly[Cys(CH2COOH)], since the apparent molar absorption coefficient of the bound species did not depend on the mixing ratio. From the absorption data, it was inferred that Cu2+ ions were complexed with the side chains, most probably with sulfur atoms and carboxyl groups. Induced optical activities were observed for the two polypeptides. The CD spectra of poly[Cys(CH2COOH)] + CuCl2 gave simpler aspects than those of poly[Cys(C2H4COOH)] + CuCl2.

Notes: The atomic motions from a molecular-dynamics simulation of yeast tRNAPhe are analyzed and compared with those observed in protein simulations. In general, the tRNA motions are of larger amplitude, they are more anisotropic, and they arise from potentials of mean force that are more anharmonic than in the protein case. In both cases, the amplitudes are largest for atoms on the surface of the molecules. On the other hand, the most anisotropic and anharmonic atomic motions are generally found in the interior of the tRNA, while they are found on the surface of the protein. These differences are discussed in terms of the differences in structure between nucleic acids and proteins.

Notes: The purpose of this work was to improve our understanding of quasielastic light scattering from long rigid rods (QL 〉〉 1). For these scatterers, only small angular displacements are required to produce dephasing of the scattering light. This plus the fact that only rods lying perpendicular to Q contribute to the scattered light allow one to simplify the intermediate scattering function to an analytic form. This form is shown to be nonexponential, exhibiting (t)-½ behavior at long delay times. This new scattering function can then be fit to experimental functions using standard methods.

Notes: We report high-resolution Raman spectra obtained from the circularly closed double stranded DNA (Form I) of the plasmid pBR322 and from its corresponding linear form (Form III). Comparison of the Raman spectra of the two forms demonstrates that, at a superhelical density (σ) of -0.069, which is of the same order as those found for most naturally occurring circularly closed DNAs, no major structural transitions occur under the influence of supercoiling. It is shown that at least 98% of all bases are fully basepaired, and that the conformation of the sugar-phosphate backbone is essentially identical to that of linear DNA. Thus, the structural influence of supercoiling, under these conditions, is confined to minor stretches of the plasmid DNA.

Notes: The force field established for guanine is applied here to guanine-containing biopolymers by considering the model compound 9-methylguanine, in which the methyl group is taken as a dynamic unit whose mass is concentrated on the carbon. In-plane normal-mode frequencies for this model compound and its N-deuterated analog are calculated. Band frequencies observed for guanine residue in Raman biopolymer spectra, such as those for DNA, RNA, or poly(G), are associated with calculated modes having similar wavelengths. They are discussed by taking into account observed and calculated D, 15N, and 18O isotopic shifts. The atomic displacements for the normal modes corresponding to the principal bands are illustrated and a number of assignments proposed.

Notes: A comparative study has been made using molecular mechanics of the ring entity of the active enkephalin analogs, Tyr-cyclo(-Nω-D-XXX-Gly-Phe-Leu-), where XXX is variously A2pr, A2bu, and Orn. Several conformations are favored for all three, and the lower-energy models are compatible with a Gly3-Phe4 bend in the active form of enkephalin. Some difficulties in assuming standard geometries in conformational surveys are illustrated.

Notes: The x-ray structure of Boc-L-Ala-Aib-Ala-Aib-Ala-Glu(OBzl)-Ala-Aib-Ala-Aib-Ala-OMe(I) represents the first α-helix determined by direct methods. This undecapeptide is a model of the N-terminus of alamethicin, and it exhibits voltage-dependent pores in bilayer membranes at a higher voltage and concentration than alamethicin. The molecule crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with a = 10.602(1), b = 23.884(3), c = 13.622(1) Å, β = 95.61(6)°, and Z = 2. It adopts a right-handed α-helical conformation in the solid state with intramolecular 5 → 1 hydrogen bonds. An additional intramolecular hydrogen bond is bifurcated, forming a stronger 4 → 1 interaction (i.e., a β-turn III) and a weaker 5 → 1 interaction, thus prolonging the α-helical part up to 9 residues. The α-helix radius of 2.1 Å, the height per residue (distance Ni … Ni + 4) of 1.53 Å, the resulting length of the α-helical part of 13.8 Å (9 residues) resp. 15.3 Å (10 residues), the van der Waals radius (4.7 Å), and the minimal diameter of pores formed by aggregation of 3-10 α-helices were calculated omitting the Glu(OBzl) side chain. In the crystal, the α-helices are linked head to tail via two hydrogen bridges forming continuous chains. Adjacent helices are oriented in antiparallel with their helix axes and have only van der Waals contacts.

Notes: Time-resolved fluorescence polarization anisotropy measurements were performed on two fractionated samples of duplex poly(dGdC) containing 230 (+40, -30) base pairs (bp) and 590 ± 40 bp. Deconvolution using the intermediate zone formula for the twisting correlation functions (which is not valid for such short DNAs) yields apparent torsion constants for these two samples that are disparate and, in any case, too low. By similarly deconvoluting simulated data constructed from the correct twisting correlation functions, it can be inferred that these two samples actually exhibit the same torsion constant, α = (4.0 ± 0.4) × 10-12 dyn cm. Within the experimental uncertainties, this value is the same as that reported previously from this laboratory for linear φ29 and linearized M13mp7 DNAs. The 590-bp sample exhibited a peculiar evolution of its apparent torsional rigidity from a very high initial value, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \hat \alpha $\end{document} = (11 ± 1) × 10-12 dyn cm, to a normal value over a period of several months, during which time many very small fragments appeared to be dissociated from, or annealed out, of the predominant high-molecular-weight species. Possible interpretations of these observations are discussed.

Notes: The conformation and internal dynamics of supercoiled pUC 8 DNA (2717 bp) are examined by dynamic light scattering, and the magnitude and uniformity of its torsional rigidity are determined using time-resolved fluorescence polarization anisotropy of intercalated ethidium dye. Neither measurement gives any indication of an appreciably reduced bending or twisting rigidity, or anomalously rapid internal motions. For 31P, in supercoiled pUC 8, we measure T2 = (2.0 ± 0.5) × 10-3 s. This lies within the range of present theoretical estimates obtained using normal rigidities. The proton linewidths observed for pUC 8 and pBR322 (4363 bp) DNAs are within a factor of 2-3 of those similarly estimated assuming ordinary rigidities.According to Bendel, Laub and James [(1982) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104, 6748-6754], supercoiled pIns36 DNA (7200 bp) exhibits an astonishingly long T2 = 1.17 s for 31P, a slowest rotational relaxation time, τ = 5 × 10-9 s, and an enormously reduced bending rigidity. Serious questions raised by these findings are examined here. The 5 × 10-9 s slowest rotational relaxation time is shown to be physically inadmissible.The nmr relaxation theory developed previously by Allison, Shibata, Wilcoxon, and Schurr [(1982) Biopolymers 21, 729-762], is modified to incorporate new results for deformable filaments, which directly introduce the highly nonexponential tumbling correlation function for reorientation of the local helix axis. Essential requirements for a complete calculation of R2, including estimation of the tumbling correlation function and evaluation of the still unknown DIP/CSA cross-term, are described in detail. Slow coil-deformation modes analogous to the Rouse-Zimm modes of linear DNAs are shown to make an important, if not dominant, contribution to the R2 relaxation rate. Geometrical parameters in the theory are chosen to provide good agreement with literature data for 600-bp linear DNA. Using this theory and an informed guess for the tumbling correlation function, we find that the 31P-nmr relaxation data of Bendel et al., if correct, necessarily impose on their DNA one or more extreme properties, such as enormously reduced bending or twisting rigidities. In contrast, the same theory yields reasonable agreement with the T2 reported here for 31P in supercoiled pUC 8 DNA when its rigidities are assumed to be quite ordinary.

Notes: The aggregation behavior of the chemotactic peptide analogs, Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe-OMe (1) and Formyl-Met-Aib-Phe-OMe (2), has been studied in chloroform and dimethylsulfoxide over the concentration range of 0.2-110 mM by 1H-nmr spectroscopy. Both peptides associate in CDCl3 at concentrations ≥ 2 mM, while there is no evidence for aggregation in (CD3)2SO. Analog 1 adopts an extended conformation in both solvents favoring association to form β-sheet structures. A folded, γ-turn conformation involving a 3 → 1 hydrogen bond between Met CO and Phe NH is supported by 1H-, 13C-nmr, and ir studies of analog 2. The influence of backbone conformation on the ease of peptide aggregation is demonstrated by ir studies in CHCl3 and CD studies in dioxane.

Notes: A 24-ps molecular-dynamics simulation of motions in yeast tRNAPhe has been completed. The overall structure of the molecule is well preserved, for the motions represent fluctuations about an average structure that is very much like the crystallographic structure. The four helical stems remain intact, the structures of the loop regions do not deteriorate, and even the base stacking in the single-stranded amino acid acceptor terminus is maintained. With two exceptions, none of the sugar puckers is significantly changed. The unconstrained floppy motions of base A76 are responsible for the repuckering of ribose 76. The other sugar that repuckers is ribose, 46, and this is the result of a very small structural change in the center of the molecule that is also responsible for the breakage of one tertiary hydrogen bond. This change in local structure does not seriously distort the base-stacking and intercalation patterns where the variable loop and the D-stem interact.

Notes: The persistence length and effective long-range bending rigidity are derived for a discrete model of an anisotropically bending filament and shown to be independent of the torsional rigidity. The twisting persistence length is found to be independent of the anisotropic bending rigidity. Other statistical properties are briefly discussed, including the dependence of tangent vector projections on contour length. The dependence of a tensor contraction on contour length is derived for an isotropically bending filament with no equilibrium twist.

Notes: Vibrational CD (VCD) and ir absorption data are reported for a series of films of Boc-(L-Ala)n-OMe homo-oligopeptides (n = 3-7) in the amide I and A regions. The data evidenced a sharp change between n = 3 and n = 4, which parallels the onset of β-structure formation, and another between n = 5 and n = 6, which parallels the full development of β-structure. This represents the first report of the application of VCD to oligopeptide conformation. The data resembled earlier reported film VCD studies of higher-molecular-weight polypeptides of known β-structure.

Notes: Conformational-energy calculations have been carried out in order to determine favorable packing arrangements within a group of α-helices. The influence of side chains and of the number of interacting α-helices on the mode of packing was analyzed. In this work, our earlier methods for computing the packing energy of a pair of α-helices [Chou, K.-C., Némethy, G. & Scheraga, H. A. (1984) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106, 3161-3170] have been extended to treat the interactions among several helices. Also, new algorithms allow the matching of standard peptide geometry to x-ray coordinates of helical complexes and the analysis of interrelations between several helices. As a specific test case, the packing of three neighboring α-helices, viz., the A, G, and H helices of sperm whale myoglobin, was considered. Minimum-energy arrangements were computed for the separate A-H and the G-H α-helix pairs as well as for the A-G-H three-helix complex. For the packing of the nearly antiparallel G and H α-helices, the same optimal structure was obtained in two- and three-helix complexes, indicating that a single packing arrangement is specifically favored by interhelix interactions. For the pair of nearly perpendicular A and H α-helices, interactions are less specific, so that there is no unique optimal structure in the two-helix complex; in the three-helix complex, however, a specific mode of packing is favored even for the A-H pair. This result indicates that the presence of other nearby α-helices can influence the packing of a given α-helix pair. The computed arrangement of the A-G-H complex is very close to that of the crystallographically determined structure. These results can be used to make deductions about the likely sequence of events in protein folding, where, in this particular case, it appears that the G-H helix pair may form first and then induce proper orientation of the A helix.

Notes: Quantum-mechanical equations are derived that are particularly well suited to actual computations of the CD for helical polymers. They make use of cyclic boundary conditions and helical symmetry, so that only two matrices with a size equal to the number of transitions considered need be diagonalized. The final equations are expressed directly in terms of monomer properties and helical parameters to invite the same input as earlier calculations, and are given as a rotational strength times a shape function for ease of comparison with the earlier work. The shape of the helix term is expressed as a derivative with respect to ω and depends on the distance between monomers along the helix axis. Other terms involving two electric transition dipoles depend on the distance from the helix axis to the transition center. These equations are directly comparable to the classical equations derived for cyclic boundary conditions and helical symmetry. We present an outline of the derivation and enough intermediate steps to clarify how the equations arise.

Notes: The Raman and ir spectra of α-helical poly(L-glutamic acid) have been assigned on the basis of a normal mode calculation for this structure. The force field was based on our previously refined main-chain force constants for α-poly(L-alanine) and side-chain force constants for β-calcium-poly(L-glutamate). Despite the identical backbone α-helical structures, significantly different frequencies are calculated, and observed, in the amide III and backbone stretch regions of α-poly(L-glutamic acid), as compared with α-poly(L-alanine). This clearly demonstrates the influence of side-chain structure on mainchain vibrational modes.

Notes: The quasielastic light scattering method was used to study the ionic strength dependence of the mutual diffusion coefficient of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (NaPSS) as a function of NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations. The results indicate a splitting in the relaxation times that depends on the ratio Cp/Cs, where Cp and Cs are the polyion and added salt concentrations. A universal relationship taking into account Manning's theory of condensation and the Debye screening due to the added salt is proposed to characterize the fast-slow relaxation time transition.

Notes: A theory of the electrophoresis of DNA through gels with large interfiber spacing, such as dilute agarose, is presented. We assume that the DNA molecule moves along its axis through a “tube” in a neutral gel under the influence of the electric field. The tube is random except for possible bias due to the effects of the field. When the field is small, we easily recover the inverse-length dependence of the mobility found previously by de Gennes and by Doi and Edwards. At higher fields, a new effect appears; the tube becomes oriented because the field biases the direction of the leading end of the chain as it moves to form an extension of the tube. This leads to an increase of the mobility with increasing field by adding a field-dependent but length-independent term to the mobility expression. In agreement with experiment, we find that the field effect can be important at fields as low as 1 V/cm and that the effect can seriously decrease the sensitivity of the mobility to chain length. We also examine the fluctuation of the migration distance, the degree of orientation induced by the field, and the transient effects occurring when the feld direction is rotated by a right angle.

Notes: The confortmational behavior of the cholecystokinin-related fragments CCK4, CCK5, and CCK6 as determined by 1H-nmr spectroscopy in DMSO-d6 and water and fluorescence-transfer measurements in aqueous medium are greatly dependent on the ionization states of these peptides. Under netral conditions, the backbones of CCK5 and CCK6 preferentially adopted folded forms with a β-turn including the four residues Gly-Trp-Met-Asp, probably stabilized by a hydrogen bond between the CO of Gly and the NH of Phe. In these structures, possible induced by an ionic interaction between the carboxylic group of Asp32 and the NH3+ group of the N-terminal amino acid, the lateral chains of the various residues are quite distant from each other (15-16 Å). Under acidic conditions, extended structures without interactions between side chains predominate for CCK5 and CCK6, while for CCK4, a conformational change drawing the Trp and Phe side chains in close proximity was shown by fluorescence. The conformations observed in aqueous medium at physiological pH are discussed in relation to the biological activity of these peptides.

Notes: Thermally induced helix-coil transitions of myosin rod, light meromyosin, and tropomyosin were studied by optical rotatory dispersion (ORD). Fractional helicity was calculated from both the Moffitt-Yang parameter, b0, and the corrected mean residue rotation [m′] at 231.4 nm. Between 3 and 30°C, [m′] increases linearly with a slope of 59/°C, whereas b0 is virtually constant, indicating apparently different thermal melting behavior. Poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-glutamic acid) in their helical forms and myoglobin also show a nearly linear temperature dependence of [m′]231.4. Muscle proteins in 6M guanidine hydrochloride and the random-coil forms of the homopolymers exhibit temperature-dependent values of [m′]231.4 and b0. We conclude from these observations that ORD properties of both α-helices and random-coil polypeptides have significant intrinsic temperature dependencies. A new method of estimating fractional helicity as a function of temperature is proposed.

Notes: The conformation of phenylacetyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine in the crystalline state was characterized by Fourier-transform ir and Raman spectroscopy and was unambiguously solved by x-ray single-crystal determination. In the crystalline state, the molecule adopts a partially folded conformation quite similar to that of another cell wall peptide, acetyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine [Benedetti et al. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9229-9234], although the crystal structure is stabilized by a quite different intermolecular hydrogen-bond pattern. No significant deviation from the usual trans-planar peptide group geometry was detected. The conformations accessible in the noncrystalline state were investigated by ir measurements in solution and conformational energy calculations. The theoretical study revealed that the peptide is a highly flexible molecule, since 55 minima were detected, within 3 kcal/mol, including the conformation found in the single crystal. The ir data for phenylacetyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine in different solvents were in accordance with virtually extended conformations, with some indication for weak, intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded C5-rings. These conformational data obtained for the cell wall peptide analog are compared with those known for penicillin G in the crystalline state.

Notes: Molecular mechanical calculations were done on complexes of ethidium cation with various base-paired deoxydinucleoside monophosphates [(ApT)2, (TpA)2, (A2 · T2), (GpC)2, (CpG)2, and (G2 · C2)] and deoxyhexanucleoside pentaphosphates [(ATATAT)2, (TATATA)2, (A6 · T6), (GCGCGC)2, (CGCGCG)2, and G6 · C6]. Relative binding energies, sequence preferences, and conformational aspects of the intercalation complexes were studied. The most detailed models used (an all-atom force field) gave results in good agreement with previous calculations and experimental work. Less-sophisticated models did not perform as well.

Notes: Transient photodichroism (TPD) data of Wang, Hogan and Austin [(1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 5896-5900] for methylene blue intercalated in nucleosomal DNA are reanalyzed using correct expressions for the twisting correlation functions of short DNAs. The data are found to rule out several models, including one in which the helix axis is constrained to girdle the equator of the sphere (representing a core particle) but the DNA is everywhere able to undergo twisting deformations and/or spinning around its local helix axis. However, when the ends of the DNA are rigidly clamped (against twisting/spinning) to the sphere, the same model gives an excellent fit to the data with suitable choices of parameters. From these and other observations, it is concluded that nucleosomal DNA must be rigidly clamped to the core particle at one or more points, although it is free to twist at most sites of binding of the dye. Moreover, if the dye is actually bound between two clamped points, then the torsional rigidity of DNA in the nucleosome is at least 2.5 times smaller than that of an ordinary linear DNA.

Notes: The configurational properties of an isotropically bendable wormlike chain have been investigated using a Monte Carlo approach. In particular, radial distributions for end-to-end separation, ring closure probabilities, and the angular correlation of the two ends of the chain have all been determined as a function of the contour length of the chain. The results of this analysis, when applied to the data of Shore et al. [(1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 4833-4837] for the length dependence of ring closure for doublehelical DNA, yields a value for the persistence length of DNA in remarkable agreement with earlier hydrodynamic studies.

Notes: Optical anisotropy data spanning a very wide time range are analyzed using a recently developed theory for filamentous macromolecules that can bend, twist, and also admit overdamped local libration (or wobble) of the chromophore. A rapid relaxation in the fluorescence polarization anisotropy (FPA) near 10-10 s is fitted well by superimposing isotropic wobble of the chromophore (7° rms polar and azimuthal amplitude) on the long-wavelength twisting and bending motions that characterize the relaxation at longer times but not by the latter alone. Moreover, the decay of the FPA from 0.5 to 150 ns cannot be satisfactorily fitted by chromophore wobble in an otherwise rigid DNA and must be assigned primarily to twisting, as noted previously.Data from 26 ns to 20 μs for 600 base-pair DNA are accurately fitted with only a single adjustable scaling factor when the tumbling correlation function is taken to be the empirical electric birefringence decay function of Elias and Eden. The Barkley-Zimm (BZ) tumbling correlation for very long filaments appears to decay too rapidly and results in significant overestimation of the depolarization for t ≤ 300 ns. In the range of the FPA experiments (t ≥ 150 ns), equally good fits with equally uniform torsion constants are obtained for long DNAs, whether one assumes the BZ tumbling correlation function or neglects tumbling entirely, but the best-fit torsion constant (actually the product of the torsion constant and friction factor) is increased by the factor 1.9 when the BZ result is used with a persistence length of a = 500 Å. The BZ bending theory is compared with other experimental data, and also with a simulation at very short times with mixed results. Present uncertainties regarding the tumbling dynamics and the friction factor for azimuthal rotation allow the torsion constant to be as much as 3.8 times larger than the initial estimate of Thomas et al. Apparent torsion constants obtained from relative ligase kinetics measurements are also briefly discussed.

Notes: Electric-field pulses of e.g. 20 kV/cm and 100 μs induce a strong decrease in the scattered light intensity of DNA condensed by spermine. Analysis of this effect demonstrates that the decrease of the scattered light intensity results from decondensation of DNA. The decondensation reaction requires an electric-field strength exceeding a threshold value. Complete decondensation can be achieved at field strength that are only slightly higher than the threshold value. The decondensation process is strongly accelerated at high electric-field strengths. At 30 kV/cm, the decondensation time constant is ∼8 μs, corresponding to an acceleation factor of 105 relative to the field-free decondensation reaction. The dependence of the time constants on the electric-field strength suggests that the field-induced decondensation is due to a dissociation field effect. The condensation process observed after electric-field pulses at low concentrations of DNA and spermine shows a characteristic induction period, which strongly depends on the spermine concentration. This induction period reflects the time required for the binding of spermine to DNA, until the degree of binding is sufficiently high for the condensation reaction. The fast dissociation of condensed DNA by electric-field pulses together with a relatively long lifetime of the free DNA results in a reaction cycle resembling a hysteresis loop.

Notes: A theory of adsorption of a polypetide chain capable of undergoing the coil-β-structure transition on a solid planar surface has been developed. The mutual influence of two order-disorder phase transitions, a conformational and an adsorption transition, was investigated. Various types of adsorption transitions are possible, depending on the initial conformational state (partly or completely β-structured) and the selectivity of adsorption: (a) the second-order phase transition, in which the chain is partly structured, both in adsorbed and desorbed states; and (b) the first-order phase transition, in which the chain exhibits a regular β-structure, at least on one side of the adsorption transition boundary. The chain bonding to the surface alters the degree of β-structure, both in the case of selective and nonselective adsorption (similar to the adsorption of the chains with other types of secondary structure). We show that the slope of the adsorption curves for partly β-structural chains increases as a result of an increase in the degree of β-structuring, and this effect is even stronger than the analogous effect of β-structuring.

Notes: Various copolypeptides were prepared by benzylamine or tertiary amine-initiated copolymerizations of alanine-N-carboxyanhydride (Ala-NCA) and valine-N-carboxyanhydride (Val-NCA). The number-average molecular weights of these copolypeptides were detemined by 1H-nmr spectroscopic end-group analyses and viscosity measurements. The sequences were characterized by 15N-nmr spectra in solution, and the average lengths of the homogeneous blocks were determined from the signal intensities. The 50.3-and 75.4-MHz 13C-nmr CP/MAS spectra of the solid copolypeptides are not sensitive to sequence effects, but allow qualitative and quantitative analyses of the secondary structures. In contrast to other methods, the 13C-nmr spectra allow determination of the extent to which individual amino acids are incorporated into β-sheet or α-helix phases. Depending on primary structure and molecular weight, the secondary structure of (Ala/Val) copolypeptides may vary significantly. Both monomer units may be predominantly helical or predominantly β-sheet structure, or the Val units may prefer the β-sheet structure with most Ala-units forming β-helices. However, these secondary structures are more or less thermodynamically unstable and revert to the stable conformations on reprecipitation from trifluoroacetic acid/water.

Notes: The intramolecular formation of multiple clusters of interacting helices has been characterized in a homopolymer. The configuration partition function permits the formation of clusters in which the number of interacting helices may be as large as the greatest integer in n/2, where n denotes the number of amino acid residues in the chain. The theoretical formulation has its origin in a recent [Mattice, W. L. & Scheraga, H. A. (1984) Biopolymers 23, 1701-1724], tractable matrix expression for the configuration partition function for intramolecular antiparallel β-sheet formation. Reassignment of the expression for one of the n(n+3)/2 elements in the sparse statistical weight matrix, along with a simple change in notation, converts that treatment into a matrix formulation of the configuration partition function for a chain containing multiple clusters of interacting antiparallel helices. The five statistical weights used are δ, fl, w, and the Zimm-Bragg σ and s. Each tight bend that connects two interacting helices contributes a factor of δ, fl is used in the weight for larger loops between interacting helices, and w arises from helix-helix interaction. The influence of the helix-helix interaction is well illustrated by two helix-coil transitions in a chain with n = 156 and σ = 0.001. In the absence of helix-helix interaction, the transition occurs by the nucleation and subsequent elongation of a small number of helices. When helix-helix interaction is attractive, the transition can occur by a different mechanism. Formation of a single pair of interacting helices is followed by addition of new helices to the initial cluster. In the latter process, individual helices experience relatively little growth after they are formed.

Notes: The low-energy conformations accessible to dCpdG modified at guanine N2 via trans epoxide opening by (+) and (-) 7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (anti-BPDE) have been delineated by minimized semiempirical potential-energy calculations with all torsion angles flexible. Nearly 4000 trials were made, representing a fairly thorough investigation of the conformation space of the adducts. Carcinogen-base stacked states and base-base stacked conformers were found in the low-energy regions of both enantiomers. Many ω′, ω, ψ domains accommodate the two types of conformations, with B-like backbones among the most preferred states in each case. The conformational differences between the two enantiomers on the dimer level reside in subtle distinctions in orientation of the carcinogen-base linkage.

Notes: The temperature dependence of the composition of coacervate and equilibrium phases is examined for the polypentapeptide of elastin (L-Val1-L-Pro2-Gly3-L-Val4-Gly5)n in water. This provides for the development of a phase diagram. CD data is presented that provides information on associated polypeptide structure changes that, when added to previous CD, nmr, and dielectric relaxation data at lower water composition, allow construction of a phase-structure diagram of the polypentapeptide-water system. The molecular-weight dependence of phase change (coacervation) is included. The volume-composition studies as a function of temperature also provide temperature coefficients of expansion and of composition important in analyzing the mechanism of elasticity.

Notes: The proton magnetic resonance spectra of o-nitrophenylthio-tetra- and hexa-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate ethylamides have been measured at different concentrations in CDCl3 and CD22C1. The NH and α-CH resonances of the tetrapeptide show downfield shifts with increasing concentration, accompanying disappearance of their fine structure and line broadening. The apparent feature of chemical shifts against concentration is sigmoidal, and it can be interpreted by assuming the presence of a step or more of association-dissociation equilibria of tetrapeptide. With increasing concentration, small aggregates are formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonding, the size of which is not sufficiently large to exhibit critical micelle concentrations. In contrast to the tetrapeptide, the hexapeptide has constant chemical shifts of the NH and α-CH resonances, independent of concentration, which implies that only the unassociated molecules show observable sharp resonances. In the hexapeptide, the phenyl CH and benzyl CH2 groups of the side chains exhibit new resonances above certain critical concentrations, indicating the restriction of rotational freedom of the side chains in the aggregated states.

Notes: We describe the solution (1H-nmr) and calculated conformations of the opiatelike peptide dermorphin and the analysis of structure-conformation-activity relationships in the series [Alan]-dermorphin. We used 1H-nmr spectroscopy to study dermorphin and its analogs [Alan]-dermorphin (with n = 1, 2…7) dissolved in dimethylsufoxide. Conformational energy calculations using semiempirical partitioned energy function methods were then carried out on dermorphin and its [L-Ala2]-analog. Agreement between calculation and experiment is satisfying, both suggesting predominance of a type I β-turn around Pro6-Ser7 at the C-terminus and of an extended structure in the central sequence Phe3-Gly4-Tyr5. Detailed analysis by step-by-step substitutions with Ala indicates that intraresidue interactions dominate over medium-range interactions (between adjacent residues), although the latter may also have a noticeable influence in shaping conformations. As a general feature, the effects of substitutions on the arrangement of side chains are always larger on the succeeding residue than on the preceding residue. Almost all the variations of activity observed in the analogs can be explained from conformational changes occurring in the aromatic side chains of the biologically important Tyr1, Phe3, and Tyr5 on substitutions effected on adjacent residues (fluctuations via medium-range interactions).

Notes: A detailed conformational analysis of polyoxyethylene-bound N-t-butyloxycarbonyl homo-oligo-L-glutamates up to the heptamer was carried out in CDCl3 solution using high-resolution 1H-nmr spectroscopy. Unequivocal assignments of resolved backbone NH and α-CH resonances were obtained with specifically deuterated oligomers. From nmr measurements, chemical-shift dependencies with respect to temperature and solvent, and the line-broadening effects of free radicals allowed the determination of hydrogen-bonded residues. The nmr data, along with model-building studies, suggest that seven-membered rings may exist in the N-terminal portion of these peptides. Replacement of the N-t-butyloxycarbonyl group by an acetyl or pyroglutamyl residue gave aggregated peptides, pointing to a special contribution by the Boc group to hydrogen bonding and solubility in CDCl3.

Notes: A detailed conformational analysis of homo-oligo-L-glutamates was carried out in aqueous solution using 1H-nmr spectroscopy. Three series of side-chain protected (α-OMe) glutamate oligopeptides, attached to polyoxyethylene (POE) to enhance their solubility, were synthesized. The effect of the N-terminal blocking groups - Boc, Ac, and pGlu - on the conformations of these peptides in water is discussed. Unequivocal assignments were obtained for all amide NH resonances through use of selectively α-deuterated oligo-glutamates. Analysis of vicinal coupling constants, temperature dependence of NH chemical shifts, transfer of saturation experiments, and titration studies with a denaturing solvent (DMSO) were used to investigate the peptide structure. These data suggest that the Glu1 and Glu2 NH protons of each heptamer are solvent exposed, while the NH protons of interior glutamate residues chain are solvent sequestered. The nmr data are consistent with the onset of helical structure at the heptamer of each series in aqueous solution. The POE-peptides with pGlu at the N-terminus showed considerably reduced stability of structure than those with the Boc or acetyl blocking groups. Peptide conformations and their stability in water are compared to those in other solvents.

Notes: Two studies are diescribed in which synthetic peptides have been designed and examined to address biochemical problems inherent in hydorphobic environments: (1) The cyclic hexapeptide cyclo-(D-Tyr(Bzl)-Gly-Ile-Leu-Gln-Pro) was synthesized as a model of an interior β-turn from the protein lysozyme. Conformational analysis by proton nmr methods, including two-dimensional nulcear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, revealed that the model peptide adopts one conformation in chloroform/dimethyl sulfoxide (98.2) and tetramethylene sulfone solutions. The conformation consists of two linked β-turns, one with the same sequence (Gly-Ile-Leu-Gln) and geometry (Type I) as the protein turn. (2) Major portions of the λ-receptor protein (LamB) signal sequences from E. coli wildtype and mutant strains have been synthesized. The conformational properties and membrane interactions of these synthetic signal peptides correlate with the in vivo export function of the wild type and mutant strains. Functional signal sequences are significantly richer in α-helix in aaqueous trifluoroethanol, lysolecithin, or sodium do-decyl sulfate solution than is a nonfunctional mutant signal sequence.

Notes: Soluble fibronectin binds specifically and saturably to surfaces of substrate-attached cells. Bound fibronection is then transferred to the deoxycholate-insoluble extracellular matrix. During transfer, fibronectin is translocated from the cell surface and organized into disulfide-bonded multimers by disulfide exchange. Binding is mediated by disulfidelooped, type I homology “fingers” in the amino-terminal region. Exchange involves disulfides in the same amino-terminal region.

Notes: The double-stranded helical complexes of poly(dG-dC) and of poly(dG-m5dC) are shown to convert from B- to Z-DNA-type conformations at moderate or low ionic strengths, lower for the 5-methyl than for the non-methyl species, in a highly cooperative temperature-dependent equilibrium. In the presence of low concentrations of divalent ion, e.g., Mg2+, the temperature at which the B → Z transition occurs is virtually independent of the salt concentration and the B-conformation is favored at lower temperature, while the Z-conformation is favored at higher temperature. Since the Debye-Hückel screening parameter changes rapidly with ionic strength in this region, electrostatic interaction with the free ions appears to be only a small factor in the forces that promote the transition; the temperature dependence must derive principally from effects on the solvent. The temperature dependence at high salt concentrations is also reported.

Notes: The action of enzymes on soluble and insoluble substrate biopolymers is discussed, taking into account enzyme diffusion along the biopolymer “surface” and interaction with interspersed ligand groups that may be modified by the action of the enzyme. It is shown that movement of the enzyme under trhe combined effect of these two processes can be described as a diffusion process characterized by an apparent diffusion coefficient that generally depends on both time and position. Equations describing the system are formulated and some specific examples analyzed in terms of analytical or numerical solutions. The concentration distributions of both the enzyme and the substrate (or product ) were obtained for different systems for which the apparent diffusion coefficient is a function of time only, as well as of both time and position. The relevance of the formulation, as developed, to systems in which reduction in dimensionality leads to enhanced enzyme efficiency is discussed, and possible uses of the theory in studies of biopolymer structure and enzyme-biopolymer interactions are suggested.

Notes: The first experimentally derived set of partial charges for a nucleotide has been determined. A high-resolution x-ray data set (5122 independent observed reflections to sin(θ)/λ = 0.995 Å-1) has been collected at T = -150°C for 2′-deoxycytidine-5′-monophosphate monohydrate in the zwitterionic form. Radial refinement was carried out on the data, a refinement method that allows variation of atomic valence sphere radii and populations and hence directly yields the partial charges of atoms in a structure [Coppens, P., Guru Row, T. N., Leung, P., Stevens, E. D., Becker, P. J. & Yang, Y. W. (1979) Acta Crystallogr., Sect. A 35, 63-72]. The atomic partial charges thus determined are in general qualitative agreement with theoretical values, but significant differences exist, indicating a reassessment of the applicability of the theoretical sets currently in use is necessary. The ab initio charges determined by Nuss and Kollman [(1979) J. Med. Chem. 22, 1517-1524] are closest to experiment in the sugar and base regions, while the Del Re charges of Renugopalakrishnan et al. [(1971) Biopolymers 10, 1159-1167] match best in the phosphate region. The presence of an additional hydrogen on N3 appears to have a small effect on the charge densities of all base atoms, rather than a large localized effect on adjacent atoms. Inspection of deformation density maps for the hydrogen bonds in this crystal suggests possible differences between those bonds that include a nitrogen atom as part of the bond and those that do not.

Notes: Exchange-rate probability-density functions (pdf) have been calculated for lysozyme hydrogen-exchange data by numerical Laplace inversion over the temperature range 5-45°C. The smoothest numerical solutions show three broad overlapping peaks. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the cumulative exchange-rate distributions provides the model-independent probability-density function for the activation energies. For the most rapidly exchanging protons, the activation energies are low, consistent with hydroxyl-ion catalysis in the protein-water interface. The second peak of the exchange-rate pdf's contains those protons located in regions of lower motility we call “matrices,” for which exchange rates are limited by gated-diffusion of the hydroxyl-ion catalyst. The most slowly exchanging protons are located on groups forming strong, dense “knot” structures, identified by neutron-diffraction and nmr data as clustered segments of β-sheet with well-organized hydrogen bonding and sections of the internal faces of α-helices. Exchange from knot structures occurs through local disordering with little loss of strength or stability to expose one or more protons at a time for exchange. Knots appear to be responsible for the two-state character of thermal unfolding that occurs by cooperative disruption of the dominant structures of this type. Below about 55°C, all protons exchange from folded states. Contributions to exchange from unfolding processes occur only at temperatures above 55°C.There is a qualitative difference between the two types of structures indicated by the appearance of two and only two enthalpy-entropy compensation patterns. The compensation temperature, Tc, for the matrices is about 470 K; that for the knots, about 360 K. The preservation of rank-order with temperature change is shown to be a consequence of the fact that all exchange rates in the slow and very slow peaks of the pdf lie on one or the other of the two compensation lines. Although the same electrostatic factors are present in all parts of the protein, we have been forced to conclude that given certain necessary geometric possibilities, these factors cooperate to produce the knots. The knots appear to be the most significant structural element in globular proteins responsible for the structural form of the matrix regions and the dynamic behavior of the protein interior. The knots have high density and low permeability to water, hydroxyl ion, etc., and are probably the explanation for the very low compressibilities, the matrices being nearly mechanically transparent. The knots must make some contribution to folded stability, but it is not clear that this contribution is large. Their major thermodynamic function is to establish kinetic stability; that is, to make the activation free energy for unfolding high. The most important factor in the existence of knots appears to be the ease with which hydrogen bonds adapt in length, angle, and strength to local electrostatic conditions. In proteins, as in water, adaptation is cooperative in local groups of hydrogen bonds, and as in water, this cooperation is enhanced by contact with aromatic and aliphatic groups.

Notes: A general approach to study peptide structure is presented using three areas of ongoing research in our laboratories. The first involves the molecular basis for taste of peptide derivatives. We synthesized dipeptides based on L-aspartyl-α-aminocycloalkane carboxylic acid methyl ester. A homologous series of cycloalkane derivatives was studied. The cyclopropane, cyclobutane, and cyclopentane derivatives are sweet, the cyclohexane and cycloheptane peptides are bitter, and the cyclooctane homolog is tasteless. The related acyclic analog L-aspartyl-aminoisobutyric acid methyl ester is sweet, while the L-aspartyl diethyl glycine carboxylic acid methyl ester is tasteless. A model is presented to explain these experimental observations. The second area involves depsipeptides as isosteric replacements of α-hydroxy acids for amino acid residues in peptide chains. We have synthesized sequentially defined polydepsipeptides as model systems for polypeptides. A detailed analysis of the conformational order for these polydepsipeptides is presented. The third area involves partial retro-inverso peptide modifications of isomeric cyclic enkephalin analogs, which illustrate the relationship between the modification and biological activity. We are probing the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding features for these biologically active molecules. From such findings we are relating the structural and conformational preferences deduced from spectroscopy and molecular mechanics to biological activity.

Notes: The artificial nuclease activity of (OP)2Cu+ and H2O2 has been used to analyze the DNA conformation of single-stranded DNA form the coliphage M-13, and the B-type DNA of the promoter region of the lac operon. Despite the strong kinetic preference of the reaction of B-DNA, demonstrated with synthetic polynucleotides, the reagent cannot distinguish the double-stranded hairpin turns in M-13 from the extensive single-stranded region because the latter forms metastable hydrogen-bonded structures that are readily cleaved.Analyses of the promoter regions of the lac operon of the wild-type and of the Ps and UV-5 mutations have demonstrated that the promoter-specific sequence (Pribnow Box), extending from positions -12 to -6, exhibits a charactersitc hyperreactivity to the reagent. The wild-type DNA has hypersensitive sites at the boundary of the region, at positions -13 and -12. The Ps and UV-5 mutations, which support cyclic AMP protein-independent transcription, have mutations at -9, and -9 and -8, respectively, and possess additional hyperreactive sites calibrated at -11 and -10 in the sequence. These experiments demonstrate that the local structure of the DNA of the these control regions is different. The unique structure of the promoter may govern recognition of the DNA by RNA polymerase. The artifical nuclease activity of (OP)2Cu+ may therefore be useful to identify functionally significant local variation in DNA structure.

Notes: Suggestive but not decisive evidence indicates that in vivo peptide chain folding is completed in a time not much longer than that required for covalent peptide synthesis. Extrapolation of model peptide rates of the cis-trans prolyl isomerization leads to the prediction tht protein folding should be much slower than the apparent in vivo rates. On the assumption that rapid protein folding in vivo is the rule, three routes are suggested by which a protein undergoing biosynthesis can avoid a strongly slowed folding rate: (1) by a peptide chain-elongation process that adds only trans peptide bonds, follwed by a rapid folding process that incorporates them into a three-dimensional structure, raising the energy barrier to isomerization; (2) by folding to produce three dimensional structures that position prolyl residues largely in chain turns on the protein surface, where the residue may be either cis or trans without large effects on the protein structure and function; (3) prolyl cis-trans isomerization may be speeded by the formation of peptide loops.

Notes: We hypothesize a model of protein folding based on the Poincaré recursion argument and a number of experimental results, including CD, nmr, and Raman spectra. Our model considers that protein folding in vivo proceeds through prefolded peptide segments consisting of 3 to 14 amino acid residues. Such segments may fold spontaneously into nativelike microdomains within a biologically feasible time, i.e., in the 10-6-10-1 s time scale. If, due to improper recognition and adjustment of their surfaces, these transiently formed secondary structures are not stabilized by long-range interactions, then the protein species occur within a time- and number-averaged spectrum of populations of transient conformational substates until the final, proper adjustment of the segments takes place. However, if, during protein folding, incorrect disulfide (S-S) bonds are formed, then such unique through-space contacts between the different parts of the polypeptide chain are usually restricted to a minimum. It is postulated that unfolding and refolding processes in vitro, and protein folding in vivo, proceed through variably populated quantized substates. The distribution of these substates depends on a number of molecular interactions between the phase and the hydration spheres surrounding the prefolded surfaces of peptide segments and long-range interactions between these prefolded surfaces.

Notes: The diffusion coefficient D of bovine serum albumin through various solutions (pH 7.0, 0.5M NaCl) of polythylene oxide (Mw ∼ 1 × 105, 3 × 105) was studied with quasielastic light scattering. In solutions of the 1 × 105 polymer solution at polymer concentrations above 0.5 g/L, D is considerably greater than would have been expected from the viscosity of water:polymer mixtures, the deviations being larger at low protein concentration that at high protein concentration. With either polymer, D falls with increasing protein concentration.

Notes: The conformational properties of a series of biologically active gastrin peptides of increasing chain length have been investigated in TEE solution by spectroscopic techniques. It was found that elongation of the glutamic acid sequence from 1 to 5 residues at the N-terminal portion of the molecules causes a cooperative change of the conformation of the peptide backbone. The environment of the biologically important C-terminal sequence-Trp-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2 monitored by the near-uv chiroptical propertical properties is alos affected by chain elongation. However, the change of the structure of the C-terminal portion does not parallel the conformational change of the peptide backbone. In fact, the final folded structure at the C-terminus is almost reached in the fragment with a sequence of 4 glutamic acid residues, while an additiona, relevent conformational change of the backbne is observed on further elongation of the chain to minigastrin and little gastrin. The ability of the fragments to fold into an ordered conformation on chain elongation parallels the increase of biolocical potency tested in vivo, reported in the literature, and suggests a correlation between these two facts. Ionization of the carboxyl side chains is without effect on the structure of the fragments with 2, 3, and 4 glutamic acid residues, while an effect is observed in minigastrin and little gastrin. From analysis of the CD properties and from their dependence upon side-chain ionization a structural model is proposed for the hormones minigastrin and little gastrin. This tentative model includes a β-bend located in the sequence Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp- and a short helical section at the N-terminal portion of the hormones.

Notes: Conformational changes of poly(L-ornithine) [(Orn)n] were studied in a sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4) solution by CD. (Orn)n adopted an unstable and a stable helical structure below and above the NaDodSO4 concentration range where β-structure was favored, respectively. CD stopped-flow was used to monitor the transitions from coil to the unstable helix, from the helix to β-structure, and from coil to β-structure. Only the rate of the helix to β-structure transition was accelerated by an increase in NaDodSO4 concentration, whereas the rates of the others were independent of NaDodSO4 concentration. The fractions of coil, α-helix, and β-structure in each conformation of (Orn)n caused by NaDodSO4 were computed by simulating a mixed spectrum of typical CD spectra for these structures to the experimentally obtained spectrum. The contents of the unstable and stable helical structures were less than 50 and 73%, respectively.

Notes: 1H-nmr relaxation has been used to study the effect of sequence and conformation on imino proton exchange in adenine-thymine (A · T) and adenine-uracil (A · U) containing DNA and RNA duplexes. At low temperature, relaxation is caused by dipolar interactions between the imino and the adenine amino and AH2 protons, and at higher temperature, by exchange with the solvent protons. Although room temperature exchange rates vary between 3 and 12s-1, the exchange activation energies (Eα) are insensitive to changes in the duplex sequence (alternating vs homopolymer duplexes), the conformation (B-form DNA vs A-form RNA), and the identity of the pyrimidine base (thymine vs uracil). The average value of the activation energy for the five duplexes studied, poly[d(A-T)], poly[d(A) · d(T)], poly[d(A-U)], Poly[d(A) · d(U)], and poly[r(A) · r(U)], was 16.8 ± 1.3 kcal/mol. In addition, we find that the average Eα for the A.T base pairs in a 43-base-pair restriction fragment is 16.4 ± 1.0 kcal/mol. This result is to be contrasted with the observation that the Eα of cytosine-containing duplexes depends on the sequence, conformation, and substituent groups on the purine and pyrimidine bases. Taken together, the data indicate that there is a common low-energy pathway for the escape of the thymine (uracil) imino protons from the double helix. The absolute values of the exchange rates in the simple sequence polymers are typically 3-10 times faster than in DNAs containing both A · T and G · C base pairs.

Notes: Circular intensity differential scattering (CIDS) patterns have been calculated for two general types of chiral arrangements. The calculations were done using the second Born approximation. The geometries considered are (a) a linear array of anisotropic scattering groups with a spiraling orientation (a twisted ladder) and (b) a helical array of scattering groups with arbitrary anisotropy and orientation. The CIDS expressions for the first of these models (twisted ladder) reduces to a simple analytical form and clearly illustrates many properties of CIDS patterns. The second geometry (helix) is more general. Calculations were done for oriented scatterers and for rotationally averaged scatterers as would be found in solution.

Notes: Vibrational CD (VCD) spectra have been obtained in the amide I region of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate), using a Fourier transform ir VCD spectrometer operating at 4-cm-1 resolution. These results reveal a new negative VCD band at 1650 cm-1 in addition to the previously observed negative positive VCD couplet centered at 1660 cm-1. Fourier self-deconvolution (FSD) of the VCD spectrum reveals three strong VCD component bands, rather than just two, as originally supposed. FSD also resolves the absorbance spectrum into two components corresponding to the parallel polarized A mode at lower frequency, and an unresolved perpendicular polarized E1 mode at higher frequency. The VCD spectrum is reassigned on the basis of this new spectral data and the FSD-VCD results are analyzed for the Moffitt contribution and the so-called helical contribution. Comparison with theory shows the VCD to be more intense than expected, particularly for the helical term. Charge flow between subunits is suggested as an additional source of VCD intensity that is presently not included in theoretical exciton descriptions. The splitting of the E1 mode and the large VCD contribution attributed to the helical term implies a deviation of the polypeptide structure from perfect helical symmetry and, as a result, a mixing of the A and E1 vibrational modes.

Notes: We have measured the CD, isotropic absorption, and LD of poly[d(A)]-poly[d(T)] and poly[d(AT)]-poly[d(AT)] in the vacuum-uv spectral region. The reduced dichroism (LD divided by isotropic absorption) varied as a function of wavelength and was independent of shear gradient. Thus, the bases are not perpendicular to the helix axis in solution. Since the directions of the transition dipoles are known, the orientations of the bases in the polymers can be calculated from the reduced dichroism spectra. The results show that the base normals are tilted at angles greater than 25°, with respect to the helix axis, and thymine is tilted more than adenine for both polymers. The tilt axes of adenine and thymine are not parallel, indicating a large propeller twist. Space-filling models of poly[d(A)]-poly[d(T)] and poly[(AT)]-poly[d(AT)] are built based on our results, and the conformations of the two (A + T) polymers in solution are discussed.

Notes: The solvent-accessible surface areas (ASAs), of the atoms in tripeptides around the minimum-energy conformations of the β-bend types I, I′, II, and II′ have been computed as a first step in the systematic solvent accessibiity study of secondary structures. The side chains chosen at the two middle positions of the bend are L-Ala, D-Ala, and Gly. The ASAs of the hydrogen atoms are reported here and are found useful in determining the type of β-bends in six examples of cyclic hexapeptides whose crystal structures are known. Comparison with observation showed that all the β-bends in these cyclic hexapeptides were correctly identified by the present method. This points to a possible use of the method in identifying β-bend types in solution.

Notes: Six sequential polytetrapeptides containing equimolar amounts of tyrosine, glutamic acid, alanine, and glycine were characterized by CD and difference spectroscopy over a wide range of pH. As the pH was lowered from physiological values, each of the polymers underwent pH-sensitive transitions. The CD spectra indicated that two polymers, poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) and poly(Tyr-Ala-Glu-Gly), had some α-helical conformation at pH 7.0 and approached maximum helicity around pH 6.0; two others, poly(Ala-Tyr-Glu-Gly) and poly(Glu-Ala-Tyr-Gly), had no α-helical conformation at pH 7.0 and about one-third of the ellipticities of the above two polymers at pH 5.5; and the remaining two, poly(Ala-Glu-Tyr-Gly) and poly(Glu-Tyr-Ala-Gly) had little or no α-helix, even at pH 5.5. Difference spectroscopy at 286 nm yielded results quite different. The molar extinction coefficients for poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) and poly(Tyr-Ala-Glu-Gly) continued to change, even below pH 5.5, and the total changes in absorbance between pH 8.0 and 4.5 were of intermediate magnitudes among the six polymers. Poly(Ala-Tyr-Glu-Gly) and poly(Glu-Ala-Tyr-Gly), which had similar CD spectra, had the lowest and highest pH-related changes in the molar extinction coefficients. It thus appears that amino acid composition alone cannot account for the apparent differences in conformation among the polytetrapeptides. Other factors, such as amno acid sequence, must play a major role in the determination of conformation.The intrinsic viscosity of poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) increased markedly between pH 6.0 and 5.5, which was below the pH of the CD transition but above the pH at which the largest absorption perturbation change, at 286 nm, took place. The model that can best account for the relatively low pH at which the absorption transition of tyrosine occurred is a progressive immobilization of side chains in the α-helix as the pH decreases.