Tuning self-assembled nanostructures through enzymatic degradation of a peptide amphiphile

Langmuir. 2013 Jun 4;29(22):6665-72. doi: 10.1021/la401025r. Epub 2013 May 17.

Abstract

The enzymatic cleavage of a peptide amphiphile (PA) is investigated. The self-assembly of the cleaved products is distinct from that of the PA substrate. The PA C16-KKFFVLK is cleaved by α-chymotrypsin at two sites leading to products C16-KKF with FVLK and C16-KKFF with VLK. The PA C16-KKFFVLK forms nanotubes and helical ribbons at room temperature. Both PAs C16-KKF and C16-KKFF corresponding to cleavage products instead self-assemble into 5-6 nm diameter spherical micelles, while peptides FVLK and VLK do not adopt well-defined aggregate structures. The secondary structures of the PAs and peptides are examined by FTIR and circular dichroism spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Only C16-KKFFVLK shows substantial β-sheet secondary structure, consistent with its self-assembly into extended aggregates, based on PA layers containing hydrogen-bonded peptide headgroups. This PA also exhibits a thermoreversible transition to twisted tapes on heating.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chymotrypsin / chemistry
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Micelles
  • Nanotubes / chemistry
  • Peptides / analysis
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteolysis
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Surface-Active Agents / analysis
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Micelles
  • Peptides
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Chymotrypsin
  • alpha-chymotrypsin