Structural analysis of an isolated cyclic tetrapeptide and its monohydrate by combined IR/UV spectroscopy.

Cyclopeptides are an important class of substances in nature, and their physiological effects are frequently based on the tendency to form bioactive conformations. Therefore the investigation of their structure yields an understanding of their functionalities. Mass-selective combined IR/UV spectroscopy in molecular beam experiments represents an ideal tool for structural analyses on isolated molecules in the gas phase, such as the investigated cyclo[L-Tyr(Me)-D-Pro](2) peptide and its complexes with water. Using the chosen spectroscopic method in combination with DFT calculations, an assignment of a structure with two intramolecular hydrogen bonds for the naked cyclopeptide is possible. For the monohydrated cluster two isomers have to be discussed: in one of them the water molecule is simply attached to the assigned monomer structure as hydrogen donor, whereas the second isomer can be characterized by a water molecule that is inserted into one of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

Selective sensing of sulfate in aqueous solution using a fluorescent bis(cyclopeptide).

Fluorescence of a bis(cyclopeptide) in which two cyclohexapeptide moieties with alternating L-proline and 6-aminopicolinic acid subunits are attached to a 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)biphenyl linker is quenched in 1:1 (v/v) water/methanol in the presence of sulfate. Of eight other anions tested, none produced a similar effect. This bis(cyclopeptide) allows the qualitative and quantitative detection of sulfate even in the presence of an excess of chloride anions. Calculations provided insight into the causes of fluorescence quenching and anion selectivity.

Optimization of the binding properties of a synthetic anion receptor using rational and combinatorial strategies.

The solution conformations of tetrameric and hexameric cyclopeptides containing alternating L-proline and 6-aminopicolinic acid subunits strongly depend on solvent polarity. Whereas in polar solvents, such as d6-DMSO, both peptides prefer on average symmetric conformations with converging NH groups, in less polar chloroform intramolecular hydrogen bonds to the peptide NH groups stabilize other, and in the case of the hexapeptide, non-symmetrical conformations. Independent of the solvent, both peptides interact with anions via their NH groups but whereas anion binding requires a cleavage of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds accompanied by a conformational reorganization in chloroform, in polar solvents the peptides are already well preorganized for anion complexation. Complex formation between anions and the cyclic hexapeptide was even detected in highly competitive D2O/CD3OD or H2O/CH3CN mixtures, which was attributed to the special sandwich-type structure of the complexes formed. Stabilizing these 2:1 aggregates by covalently linking two cyclopeptide rings together affords ditopic receptors with a high anion affinity in protic solvents. Complex stability depends on the structure of the linker with which the two receptor moieties are connected and even more potent anion receptors were obtained by a dynamic combinatorial optimization of this linking unit.

Dynamic combinatorial development of a neutral synthetic receptor that binds sulfate with nanomolar affinity in aqueous solution.

Using dynamic combinatorial disulfide chemistry we have developed a new generation of neutral synthetic receptors for anions, based on a macrobicyclic peptide structure. These receptors show an exceptional affinity and selectivity for sulfate ions in aqueous solution [log K(a) = 8.67 in 41 mol% (67 volume%) acetonitrile in water]. The high affinity depends on a delicate balance between rigidity and flexibility in the structure of the receptor.