Self-Assembling Peptide Surfactants A6K and A6D Adopt a-Helical Structures Useful for Membrane Protein Stabilization

doi:10.3390/membranes1040314

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Membranes 2011, 1(4), 314-326; doi:10.3390/membranes1040314

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Self-Assembling Peptide Surfactants A₆K and A₆D Adopt a-Helical Structures Useful for Membrane Protein Stabilization

Furen Zhuang, Kamila Oglęcka and Charlotte A. E. Hauser*

Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos #04–01, Singapore 138669, Singapore

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 22 August 2011; in revised form: 30 September 2011 / Accepted: 10 October 2011 / Published: 21 October 2011

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Health and Environmental Applications)

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Abstract: Elucidation of membrane protein structures have been greatly hampered by difficulties in producing adequately large quantities of the functional protein and stabilizing them. A₆D and A₆K are promising solutions to the problem and have recently been used for the rapid production of membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We propose that despite their short lengths, these peptides can adopt α-helical structures through interactions with micelles formed by the peptides themselves. These α-helices are then able to stabilize α-helical motifs which many membrane proteins contain. We also show that A₆D and A₆K can form β-sheets and appear as weak hydrogels at sufficiently high concentrations. Furthermore, A₆D and A₆K together in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) can form expected β-sheet structures via a surprising α-helical intermediate.

Keywords: self-assembling peptides; membrane proteins; peptide surfactants; peptide structure; GPCRs

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A correction was published on 2 May 2012: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/2/2/214 (PDF, 134 KB)

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhuang, F.; Oglęcka, K.; Hauser, C.A.E. Self-Assembling Peptide Surfactants A₆K and A₆D Adopt a-Helical Structures Useful for Membrane Protein Stabilization. Membranes 2011, 1, 314-326.

AMA Style

Zhuang F, Oglęcka K, Hauser CAE. Self-Assembling Peptide Surfactants A₆K and A₆D Adopt a-Helical Structures Useful for Membrane Protein Stabilization. Membranes. 2011; 1(4):314-326.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhuang, Furen; Oglęcka, Kamila; Hauser, Charlotte A. E. 2011. "Self-Assembling Peptide Surfactants A₆K and A₆D Adopt a-Helical Structures Useful for Membrane Protein Stabilization." Membranes 1, no. 4: 314-326.

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