Conformational photoswitching of a synthetic peptide foldamer bound within a phospholipid bilayer

De Poli, Matteo; Zawodny, Wojciech; Quinonero, Ophélie; Lorch, Mark; Webb, Simon J.; Clayden, Jonathan

Abstract

The dynamic properties of foldamers, synthetic molecules that mimic folded biomolecules, have mainly been explored in free solution.We report on the design, synthesis, and conformational behavior of photoresponsive foldamers bound in a phospholipid bilayer akin to a biological membrane phase. These molecules contain a chromophore, which can be switched between two configurations by different wavelengths of light, attached to a helical synthetic peptide that both promotes membrane insertion and communicates conformational change along its length. Light-induced structural changes in the chromophore are translated into global conformational changes, which are detected by monitoring the solid-state 19 F nuclear magnetic resonance signals of a remote fluorine-containing residue located 1 to 2 nanometers away. The behavior of the foldamers in the membrane phase is similar to that of analogous compounds in organic solvents.

Citation

De Poli, M., Zawodny, W., Quinonero, O., Lorch, M., Webb, S. J., & Clayden, J. (2016). Conformational photoswitching of a synthetic peptide foldamer bound within a phospholipid bilayer. Science, 352(6285), 575-580. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad8352

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 24, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 31, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 29, 2016
• Deposit Date: Apr 7, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 7, 2016
• Journal: Science
• Print ISSN: 0036-8075
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 352
• Issue: 6285
• Pages: 575-580
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad8352
• Keywords: Conformational photoswitching
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/435293
• Publisher URL: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2016/03/30/science.aad8352.article-info
• Additional Information: This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Science Journal Title {VOL352, 29 April 2016}, doi: 10.1126/science.aad8352
• Contract Date: Apr 7, 2016