Peptide foldamers consisted of homogeneous trans-ACPC backbone self-assemble into well-defined 3D architectures (foldectures) with unique morphologies such as windmill, square rod and molar tooth. To diversify the foldectures, there have been efforts to modify the peptide backbone by introducing different amino acids. Recently, heterogeneous backbones of \alpha/\beta-peptide foldamers have been used as building blocks for self-assembly to produce intriguing morphologies such as parallelogram plate and truncated bipyramids. Although a variety of interesting morphologies have been self-assembled with potential to mimic biological structures, applications for foldectures are limited to this date.
To further diversify foldectures and expand the scope for applications, employing functional groups with well-known and specific functions to the foldamer backbone seems like an interesting proposition.
In this study, 1,4-dihydroxylphenylalanine (L-DOPA) was employed within the \alpha/\beta- peptide foldamer building block to add functionality to the self-assembled structure. Upon self-assembly, the resulting foldecture displayed rod shapes. To induce cross-linking between the catechol moieties incorporated within the structures, sodium periodate was added to the foldectures. Upon mechanical stirring, the structures were physically intact. Also, the functionalized foldamers were self-assembled in the presence of sodium periodate to investigate the degree of cross-linking. Lastly, the DOPA functionalized foldamers were exposed to sodium periodate to investigate the cross-linking ability of the catechol units. These results may be useful in the intramolecular and intermolecular cross-linking of foldectures.
trans-ACPC로 이루어진 펩타이드 폴대머는 여러 형상으로 자기조립을 할 수 있다. 이 모양을 폴덱쳐라 부르는데 다양한 폴덱처를 만들기 위해 펩타이드 체인에 다른 아미노산을 도입하기도 한다. 최근들어 이미 기능들이 잘 알려진 분자들을 도입시켜 새로운 기능의 폴덱쳐를 만들기 위한 노력들이 이뤄지고 있다.
이 논문에서는 DOPA 기능화 그룹을 도입시켜 DOPA의 기능들을 보여주게끔 시도를 하였다. DOPA가 도입된 이 폴덱쳐들을 산화시켜 서로 크로스링킹이 이루어지도록 유도하였다. 이 논문에서는 폴덱쳐들을 크로스링킹하기 위해 도움이 될 수 있는 결과들을 보여주었다.
