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Aromatic-aromatic interactions between phenylalanine side chains in peptides have been probed by the structure determination in crystals of three peptides: Boc-Val-Ala-Phe-Aib-Val-Ala-Phe-Aib-OMe, I; Boc-Val-Ala-Phe-Aib-Val-Ala-Phe-Aib-Val-Ala-Phe-Aib-OMe, II; Boc-Aib-Ala-Phe-Aib-Phe-Ala-Val-Aib-OMe, III. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that all three peptides adopt helical conformations in the solid state with the Phe side chains projecting outward. Interhelix association in the crystals is promoted by Phe-Phe interactions. A total of 15 unique aromatic pairs have been characterized in the three independent crystal structures. In peptides I and II, the aromatic side chains lie on the same face of the helix at i/i + 4 positions resulting in both intrahelix and interhelix aromatic interactions. In peptide III, the Phe side chains are placed on the opposite faces of the helix, resulting in exclusive intermolecular aromatic interactions. The distances between the centroids of aromatic pair ranges from 5.11 to 6.86 A, while the distance of closest approach of ring carbon atoms ranges from 3.27 to 4.59 A. Examples of T-shaped and parallel-displaced arrangements of aromatic pairs are observed, in addition to several examples of inclined arrangements. The results support the view that the interaction potential for a pair of aromatic rings is relatively broad and rugged with several minima of similar energies, separated by small activation barriers.

No abstract

The alpha-aminoisobutyric (Aib) residue has generally been considered to be a strongly helicogenic residue as evidenced by its ability to promote helical folding in synthetic and natural sequences. Crystal structures of several peptide natural products, peptaibols, have revealed predominantly helical conformations, despite the presence of multiple helix-breaking Pro or Hyp residues. Survey of synthetic Aib-containing peptides shows a preponderance of 3(10)-, alpha-, and mixed 3(10)/alpha-helical structures. This review highlights the examples of Aib residues observed in nonhelical conformations, which fall 'primarily' into the polyproline II (P(II)) and fully extended regions of conformational space. The achiral Aib residue can adopt both left (alpha(L))- and right (alpha(R))-handed helical conformations. In sequences containing chiral amino acids, helix termination can occur by means of chiral reversal at an Aib residue, resulting in formation of a Schellman motif. Examples of Aib residues in unusual conformations are illustrated by surveying a database of Aib-containing crystal structures.

The structure of flavocytochrome b2 from baker's yeast was solved at 3.0-A resolution by the multiple isomorphous replacement method combined with solvent leveling procedures, using data collected from an area detector.