Design and Oligomerization of Uniquely Folded Supersecondary Structural Motifs

这项研究的重点是双重的。首先，将开展新的独立折叠多肽基序的开发。这两个设计目标是一个全贝塔结构(BBB)基序和一个模仿轮状毒素的α和贝塔混合结构，其中包括一些天然状态的二硫化物。其次，BBA基序的结构将被操纵，通过“结构域交换”来影响离散二聚体结构的形成。二聚化研究的一个关键特征将是开发具有溶致变色特性的荧光氨基酸，用于研究蛋白质结合现象。通过这一续展奖项，有机和高分子化学项目支持加州理工学院化学系的Barbara Imperiali博士的研究。Imperiali教授将专注于设计和开发功能多肽的从头合成方法。对将小分子寡肽折叠成致密结构所涉及的协作力的详细分析将有助于理解蛋白质生物聚合物的结构。

The foci of this research are twofold. First, the development of new independently folded polypeptide motifs will be carried out. The two design targets are an all beta-structure (BBB) motif and a mixed alpha- and beta- structure patterned after charybotoxin which includes a number of disulfides in the native state. Second, the structure of the BBA motif will be manipulated to effect the formation of a discrete dimeric structure by `domain swapping.` A key feature of the dimerization studies will be the development of fluorescent amino acids with solvatochromic properties for studying protein association phenomena. With this renewal award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. Barbara Imperiali of the Division of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. Professor Imperiali will focus her work on designing and developing methods for the de novo synthesis of functional polypeptides. The detailed analysis of the cooperative forces involved in folding small oligopeptides into compact structures will contribute to the understanding of the architecture of the protein biopolymer.