Functional, metal-based crosslinkers for α-helix induction in short peptides.

ABSTRACT: Many protein-protein interactions that play a central role in cellular processes involve α-helical domains. Consequently, there has been great interest in developing strategies for stabilizing short peptides in α-helical conformations toward the inhibition and interrogation of protein-protein interactions. Here, we show that tridentate Hybrid Coordination Motifs (HCMs), which consist of a natural (histidine, His) and an unnatural (8-hydroxyquinoline, Quin) metal binding functionality, can bind divalent metal ions with high affinity and thereby induce/stabilize an α-helical configuration in short peptide sequences. The Quin functionality is readily introduced onto peptide platforms both during or after solid-state peptide synthesis, demonstrating the preparative versatility of HCMs. A syste

SUBMITTER: Smith SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3800689 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature