biostudies-literatureShi YNational Institutes of HealthNIGMS NIH HHSNational Science Foundation12697-12706https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10484567biostudies-literatureUnknown141(32)Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was intensively studied because of packing of small molecules and polymers; however, mid-molecular-weight (1000-3000) molecular scaffold containing a precise number of AIE luminogens is rare. Herein, we report the investigation of three tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-modified sulfono-γ-AApeptides in which multiple TPE moieties are conjugated to the chiral right-handed helical peptidomimetic backbone as functional side chains. The crystal structure of the TPE-α/sulfono-γ-AA peptide <b>1</b> demonstrates that because of the rigid helical scaffold of the TPE-α/sulfono-γ-AA peptides, the intramolecular rotations of the TPE with short linker are restricted, therefore leading to the boosted fluorescent emission in solution. Peptides <b>2</b> and <b>3</b> exhibit aggJournal of the American Chemical SocietyHelical Sulfono-γ-AApeptides with Aggregation-Induced Emission and Circularly Polarized Luminescence.PMC10484567R01 GM11265217085001R01GM112652-01A1Wang MLi XYin GZheng YYan ZCai JSang PBrzozowski RWojtas LEswara PShi YfalseHelical Sulfono-γ-AApeptides with Aggregation-Induced Emission and Circularly Polarized Luminescence.Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was intensively studied because of packing of small molecules and polymers; however, mid-molecular-weight (1000-3000) molecular scaffold containing a precise number of AIE luminogens is rare. Herein, we report the investigation of three tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-modified sulfono-γ-AApeptides in which multiple TPE moieties are conjugated to the chiral right-handed helical peptidomimetic backbone as functional side chains. The crystal structure of the TPE-α/sulfono-γ-AA peptide <b>1</b> demonstrates that because of the rigid helical scaffold of the TPE-α/sulfono-γ-AA peptides, the intramolecular rotations of the TPE with short linker are restricted, therefore leading to the boosted fluorescent emission in solution. Peptides <b>2</b> and <b>3</b> exhibit agg2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Aug2025-05-29T19:51:15.618Z2025-05-29T19:51:15.618ZS-EPMC104845673133513510.1021/jacs.9b05329