Tunable control of polyproline helix (PPII) structure via aromatic electronic effects: an electronic switch of polyproline helix.

ABSTRACT: Aromatic rings exhibit defined interactions via the unique aromatic ? face. Aromatic amino acids interact favorably with proline residues via both the hydrophobic effect and aromatic-proline interactions, C-H/? interactions between the aromatic ? face and proline ring C-H bonds. The canonical aromatic amino acids Trp, Tyr, and Phe strongly disfavor a polyproline helix (PPII) when they are present in proline-rich sequences because of the large populations of cis amide bonds induced by favorable aromatic-proline interactions (aromatic-cis-proline and proline-cis-proline-aromatic interactions). We demonstrate the ability to tune polyproline helix conformation and cis-trans isomerism in proline-rich sequences using aromatic electronic effects. Electron-rich aromatic residues strongly disfavor polyproline helix and exhibit large populations of cis amide bonds, while electron-poor aromatic residues exhibit small populations of cis amide bonds and favor polyproline helix. 4-Aminophenylalanine is a pH-dependent electronic switch of polyproline helix, with cis amide bonds favored as the electron-donating amine, but trans amide bonds and polyproline helix preferred as the electron-withdrawing ammonium. Peptides with block proline-aromatic PPXPPXPPXPP sequences exhibited electronically switchable pH-dependent structures. Electron-poor aromatic amino acids provide special capabilities to integrate aromatic residues into polyproline helices and to serve as the basis of aromatic electronic switches to change structure.

SUBMITTER: Pandey AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4139158 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature