Self-Assembled α-Helical Polypeptide Films
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1991
Abstract
Poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) derivatized at its N-terminus with lipoic acid, a disulfide-containing moiety, self-assembles on gold from helicogenic solvents to give a thin film with the polypeptide α-helices orientation distribution different from the planar orientation in the unlabeled, physisorbed PBLG films (control) and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers. The SA films were studied by angle-dependent XPS, reflection-absorption FTIR spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. The IR dichroic properties of the amide I and amide II bands were used to infer the orientational distribution of the helices in the self-assembled film and lead to two extreme pictures of the helix axis distribution function: (a) random (hemispherical distribution) and (b) perfect order with a tilt of 53° from the surface normal. Additional characterization is necessary to differentiate between these two distributions.
Recommended Citation
Enriquez, E., & Samulski, E. (1991). Self-Assembled α-Helical Polypeptide Films. MRS Proceedings, 255, 423. doi:10.1557/PROC-255-423