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Mechanochemistry of a single polypeptide molecule: Study of force-induced conformational transitions
Willet, Nicolas; Hinterdorfer, Peter; Lecommandoux, Sébastien et al.
2011AFM BioMed Conference
 

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Abstract :
[en] The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanochemical behavior of homopolypeptides able to change their conformation is a stimuli-responsive way. The peptidic secondary structures were studied in detail by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the single-molecule level. Synthetic copolymers containing a polypeptide block were prepared by N-carboxyanhydride amino acid ring-opening polymerization. The polymer chains were grafted as a dilute brush onto gold surfaces via disulfide end-groups. Their mechanochemical behavior was then studied by AFM single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). The investigated polypeptide blocks were based on poly(L-glutamic acid), which undergoes a transition from alpha-helix to random coil. This can be induced by external stimuli (pH, ionic strength, temperature) or simply by applying a force. We were able to study the mechanically driven unfolding of the peptide by stretching-release cycles of the biomacromolecule. Stretching the helical peptide resulted in original features in the force-distance traces. Plateaus that are specific for the helical conformation were detected, quantified and discussed. Pulling-relaxing SMFS experiments eventually led to a better understanding of the force induced unfolding of a alpha-helix and the reversibility of the phenomenon.
Disciplines :
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Willet, Nicolas ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Nanochemistry and Molecular Systems
Hinterdorfer, Peter;  Johannes Kepler University of Linz > Biophysics Institute
Lecommandoux, Sébastien;  University Bordeaux 1 > Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO)
Duwez, Anne-Sophie  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Liège > Nanochemistry and Molecular Systems
Language :
English
Title :
Mechanochemistry of a single polypeptide molecule: Study of force-induced conformational transitions
Publication date :
August 2011
Event name :
AFM BioMed Conference
Event place :
Paris, France
Event date :
23-27/08/2011
Audience :
International
Available on ORBi :
since 06 January 2012

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