ABSTRACT
Conformational energy computations of the monopeptides from three achiral α,α− dialkylated glycyl residues with acyclic side chains (namely α,α-dimethyl-; α,α−diethyl-; and a, adi- n-propylglycines) are reported as a function of the relevant N-Cα-C' bond angle. In parallel, experimental studies were performed in the solid state (infrared absorption and X-ray diffraction) and in solution (infrared absorption and proton magnetic resonance) on the corresponding protected homo-peptide series (the former series to the dodecamer, the other two series to the pentamers). The results obtained unequivocally indicate that the preference from a helical to a fully extended conformation increases as side-chain bulkiness increases. The longest homo-peptides from α,α−dimethylglycine form stable 310-helices. A picture of the mode of self-association of the helical structures has also been determined. The results of the theoretical analyses fit well with the experimentally observed conformational properties in the solid state and in chloroform solution.
ABSTRACT
Cyclic peptides form an interesting class of compounds for study by conformational analysis, by virtue of their unique conformational features and biological properties. The small cyclic peptides having 3–6 peptide units in their ring, show a variety of conformational characteristics such as occurrence of cis peptide units, flexibility of peptide dimension and variety in hydrogen bonding. The different possible conformations of cyclic triand hexa-peptides are given and certain specific conformational features are discussed for cyclic tetra and pentapeptides. For higher cyclic peptides, the hydrogen bonding requirement for stability of the backbone of the ring, is seen to be kept to a minimum. These various features and their significance are examined and discussed in the light of energy minimization studies and analysis of available experimental data.