The Redox-Active Conopeptide Derived from the Venom Duct Transcriptome of Conus lividus Assists in the Oxidative Folding of Conotoxin.

The tetrapeptides Li504 and Li520, differing in the modification of the 4-trans-hydroxylation of proline, are novel conopeptides derived from the venom duct transcriptome of the marine cone snail Conus lividus. These predicted mature peptides are homologous to the active site motif of oxidoreductases that catalyze the oxidation, reduction, and rearrangement of disulfide bonds in peptides and proteins. The estimated reduction potential of the disulfide of Li504 and Li520 is within the range of disulfide reduction potentials of oxidoreductases, indicating that they may catalyze the oxidative folding of conotoxins. Conformational features of Li504 and Li520 include the trans configuration of the Cys1-Pro2/Hyp2 peptide bond with a type 1 turn that is similar to the active site motif of glutaredoxin that regulates the oxidation of cysteine thiols to disulfides. Li504- and Li520-assisted oxidative folding of α-conotoxin ImI confirms that Li520 improves the yield of the natively folded peptide by concomitantly decreasing the yield of the non-native disulfide isomer and thus acts as a miniature disulfide isomerase. The geometry of the Cys1-Hyp2 peptide bond of Li520 shifts between the trans and cis configurations in the disulfide form and thiol/thiolate form, which regulates the deprotonation of the N-terminal cysteine residue. Hydrogen bonding of the hydroxyl group of 4-trans-hydroxyproline with the interpeptide chain unit in the mixed disulfide form may play a vital role in shifting the geometry of the Cys1-Hyp2 peptide bond from cis to trans configuration. The Li520 conopeptide together with similar peptides derived from other species may constitute a new family of "redox-active" conopeptides that are integral components of the oxidative folding machinery of conotoxins.

A proline insertion-deletion in the spike glycoprotein fusion peptide of mouse hepatitis virus strongly alters neuropathology.

Fusion peptides (FPs) in spike proteins are key players mediating early events in cell-to-cell fusion, vital for intercellular viral spread. A proline residue located at the central FP region has often been suggested to have a distinctive role in this fusion event. The spike glycoprotein from strain RSA59 (PP) of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) contains two central, consecutive prolines in the FP. Here, we report that deletion of one of these proline residues, resulting in RSA59 (P), significantly affected neural cell syncytia formation and viral titers postinfection in vitro Transcranial inoculation of C57Bl/6 mice with RSA59 (PP) or RSA59 (P) yielded similar degrees of necrotizing hepatitis and meningitis, but only RSA59 (PP) produced widespread encephalitis that extended deeply into the brain parenchyma. By day 6 postinfection, both virus variants were mostly cleared from the brain. Interestingly, inoculation with the RSA59 (P)-carrying MHV significantly reduced demyelination at the chronic stage. We also found that the presence of two consecutive prolines in FP promotes a more ordered, compact, and rigid structure in the spike protein. These effects on FP structure were due to proline's unique stereochemical properties intrinsic to its secondary amino acid structure, revealed by molecular dynamics and NMR experiments. We therefore propose that the differences in the severity of encephalitis and demyelination between RSA59 (PP) and RSA59 (P) arise from the presence or absence, respectively, of the two consecutive prolines in FP. Our studies define a structural determinant of MHV entry in the brain parenchyma important for altered neuropathogenesis.

Structural Investigation of Hybrid Peptide Foldamers Composed of α-Dipeptide Equivalent ß-Oxy-δ5 -amino Acids.

Due to their equivalent lengths, δ-amino acids can serve as surrogates of α-dipeptides. However, δ-amino acids with proteinogenic side chains have not been well studied because of synthetic difficulties and because of their insolubility in organic solvents. Recently we reported the spontaneous supramolecular gelation of δ-peptides composed of ß(O)-δ5 -amino acids. Here, we report the incorporation of ß(O)-δ5 -amino acids as guests into the host α-helix, α,γ-hybrid peptide 12-helix and their single-crystal conformations. In addition, we studied the solution conformations of hybrid peptides composed of 1:1 alternating α and ß(O)-δ5 -amino acids. In contrast to the control α-helix structures, the crystal structure of peptides with ß(O)-δ5 -amino acids exhibit α-helical conformations consisting of both 13- and 10-membered H-bonds. The α,δ-hybrid peptide adopted mixed 13/11-helix conformation in solution with alternating H-bond directionality. Crystal-structure analysis revealed that the α,γ4 -hybrid peptide accommodated the guest ß(O)-δ5 -amino acid without significant deviation to the overall helix folding. The results reported here emphasize that ß(O)-δ5 -amino acids with proteinogenic side chains can be accommodated into regular α-helix or 12-helix as guests without much deviation of the overall helix folding of the peptides.

Characterization of (Boc-Cys/Sec-NHMe)2 and (Boc-Cys/Sec-OMe)2 : Evidence of local conformational difference between disulfide and diselenide.

Conformations of disulfide and diselenide were compared in (Boc-Cys/Sec-NHMe)2 and (Boc-Cys/Sec-OMe)2 using X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Conformations of disulfide/diselenide in polypeptides are defined based on the sign of side chain torsion angle χ3 (-CH2 -S/Se-S/Se-CH2 -); negative indicates left-handed and positive indicates right-handed orientation. In the crystals of (Boc-Cys-OMe)2 and (Boc-Sec-OMe)2 , the disulfide exhibits a left-handed and the diselenide a right-handed orientation. Characterization of cystine and selenocystine derivatives in solution using 1 H-NMR, natural abundant 77 Se NMR, 2D-ROESY, and chemical shift analysis coupled to DMSO titration has indicated the symmetrical nature and antiparallel orientation of Cys/Sec residues about the disulfide/diselenide bridges. Structural calculations of cystine and selenocystine derivatives using DFT further support the antiparallel orientation of Cys/Sec residues about disulfide/diselenide. The far-ultraviolet (UV) region CD spectra of cystine and selenocystine derivatives have exhibited the negative Cotton effect (CE) for disulfide and positive for diselenide confirming the difference in the conformational preference of disulfide and diselenide. In the previously reported polymorphic structure of (Boc-Sec-OMe)2 , the diselenide has right-handed orientation. In the X-ray structures of disulfide and diselenide analogues of Escherichia coli protein encoded by curli specific gene C (CgsC) retrieved from Protein Databank (PDB), disulfide has left-handed and the diselenide right-handed orientation. The current report provides the evidence for the local conformational difference between a disulfide and a diselenide group under unconstrained conditions, which may be useful for the rational replacement of disulfide by diselenide in polypeptide chains.

C11 /C9 Helical Folding in αß Hybrid Peptides Containing 1-Amino-cyclohexane acetic acid (ß3, 3 -Ac6 c).

The present study describes the solid-state conformation of αß hybrid peptides, Boc-Leu-ß3, 3 -Ac6 c-OH, P1; Boc-Leu-ß3, 3 -Ac6 c-Leu-ß3, 3 -Ac6 c-OMe, P2; and Boc-Leu-ß3, 3 -Ac6 c-Leu-ß3, 3 -Ac6 c-Leu-OMe, P3. The dipeptide P1 adopts extended conformations, whereas tetrapeptide P2 and pentapeptide P3 favor a helical conformation stabilized by mixed types of C11 /C9 intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In peptide P3, the amino group of ß3, 3 -Ac6 c(2) and ß3, 3 -Ac6 c(4) residues occupies axial orientation, whereas in P2 it occupies axial and equatorial orientations for residues ß3, 3 -Ac6 c(2) and ß3, 3 -Ac6 c(4), respectively. The self-assembly of P3 forms channels filled with solvent molecules that present interesting patterns.

Structural Dimorphism of Achiral α,γ-Hybrid Peptide Foldamers: Coexistence of 12- and 15/17-Helices.

Here, novel 12-helices in α,γ-hybrid peptides composed of achiral α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and 4-aminoisocaproic acid (Aic, doubly homologated Aib) monomers in 1:1 alternation are reported. The 12-helices were indicated by solution and crystal structural analyses of tetra- and heptapeptides. Surprisingly, single crystals of the longer nonapeptide displayed two different helix types: the novel 12-helix and an unprecedented 15/17-helix. Quantum chemical calculations on both helix types in a series of continuously lengthened Aib/Aic-hybrid peptides confirm that the 12-helix is more stable than the 15/17-helix in shorter peptides, whereas the 15/17-helix is more stable in longer sequences. Thus, the coexistence of both helix types can be expected within a definite range of sequence lengths. The novel 15/17- and 12-helices in α,γ-hybrid peptides with 5→1 and 4→1 hydrogen-bonding patterns, respectively, can be viewed as backbone-expanded analogues of native α- and 310 -helices.

Conformational properties and aggregation of homo-oligomeric ß3 (R)-valine peptides in organic solvents.

The conformational characteristics of protected homo-oligomeric Boc-[ß3 (R)Val]n -OMe, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 have been investigated in organic solvents using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) methods. The detailed 1 H NMR analysis of Boc-[ß3 (R)Val]12 -OMe reveals that the peptide aggregates extensively in CDCl3 , but is disaggregated in 20%, (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in CDCl3 and in CD3 OH. Limited assignment of the N-terminus NH groups, together with solvent dependence of NH chemical shifts and temperature coefficients provides evidence for 14-helix conformation in the 12-residue peptide. FTIR analysis in CHCl3 establishes that the onset of folding and aggregation, as evidenced by NH stretching bands at 3375 cm-1 (intramolecular) and 3285 cm-1 (intermolecular), begins at the level of the tetrapeptide. The observed CD bands, 214 nm (negative) and 198 nm (positive), support 14-helix formation in the 9 and 12 residue sequences. The folding and aggregation tendencies of homo-oligomeric α-, ß-, and γ- residues is compared in the model peptides Boc-[ωVal]n -NHMe, ω = α, ß, and γ and n = 1, 2, and 3. Analysis of the FTIR spectra in CHCl3 , establish that the tendency to aggregate at the di and tripeptide level follows the order ß > α∼γ, while the tendency to fold follows the order γ > ß > α.

Homooligomeric ß3 (R)-valine peptides: Transformation between C14 and C12 helical structures induced by a guest Aib residue.

Novel helical, structures unprecedented in the chemistry of α-polypeptides, may be found in polypeptides containing ß and γ amino acids. The structural characterization of C12 and C14 -helices in oligo ß-peptides was originally achieved using conformationally constrained cyclic ß-residues. This study explores the conformational characteristics of proteinogenic ß3 residues in homooligomeric sequences and addresses the issue of inducing a transition between C14 and C12 helices by the introduction of a guest α-residue. Folded C14 -helical structures are demonstrated for the nonapeptide Boc-[ß3 (R)Val]9 -OMe by NMR methods in CDCl3 -DMSO mixtures, while the peptide was found to be aggregated in CDCl3 . The insertion of a guest Aib residue into an oligo-ß-valine sequence in the octapeptide model Boc-[(ß3 (R)Val)3 -Aib-(ß3 (R)Val]4 -OMe results in well dispersed NH region in the NMR spectrum indicating folded structures in CDCl3 . Structure calculations for both the peptides using NOE distance constraints support a C14 helical structure in the homooligomer which transform into a C12 helix on introduction of the guest Aib residue.

Effect of methylene group insertions on the structural rigidity of Aib containing helices.

Nonprotein amino acids are being extensively used in the design of synthetic peptides to create new structure mimics. In this study we report the effect of methylene group insertions in a heptapeptide Boc-Ala1-Leu2-Aib3-Xxx4-Ala5-Leu6-Aib7-OMe which nicely folds into a mixed 310 -/α-helical structure when Xxx= Ala. Analogs of this peptide have been made and studied by replacing central Xxx4 residue with Glycine (α-residue), ß-Alanine (ß-Αla), γ-aminobutyric acid (Gaba), and ε-aminocaproic acid (ε-Aca). NMR and circular dichroism were used to study the solution structure of these peptides. Crystals of the peptides containing alanine, ß-Αla, and Gaba reveal that increasing the number of central methylene (-CH2 -) groups introduces local perturbations even as the helical structure is retained.

Directing peptide conformation with centrally positioned pre-organized dipeptide segments: studies of a 12-residue helix and ß-hairpin.

Secondary structure formation in oligopeptides can be induced by short nucleating segments with a high propensity to form hydrogen bonded turn conformations. Type I/III turns facilitate helical folding while type II'/I' turns favour hairpin formation. This principle is experimentally verified by studies of two designed dodecapeptides, Boc-Val-Phe-Leu-Phe-Val-Aib-Aib-Val-Phe-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe 1 and Boc-Val-Phe-Leu-Phe-Val-(D)Pro-(L)Pro-Val-Phe-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe 2. The N- and C-terminal flanking pentapeptide sequences in both cases are identical. Peptide 1 adopts a largely α-helical conformation in crystals, with a small 310 helical segment at the N-terminus. The overall helical fold is maintained in methanol solution as evidenced by NMR studies. Peptide 2 adopts an antiparallel ß-hairpin conformation stabilized by 6 interstrand hydrogen bonds. Key nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) provide evidence for the antiparallel ß-hairpin structure. Aromatic proton chemical shifts provide a clear distinction between the conformation of peptides 1 (helical) and 2 (ß-hairpin). The proximity of facing aromatic residues positioned at non-hydrogen bonding positions in the hairpin results in extensively ring current shifted proton resonances in peptide 2.

Conformational analysis of a 20-membered cyclic peptide disulfide from Conus virgo with a WPW segment: evidence for an aromatic-proline sandwich.

A novel peptide containing a single disulfide bond, CIWPWC (Vi804), has been isolated and characterised from the venom of the marine cone snail, Conus virgo. A precursor polypeptide sequence derived from complementary DNA, corresponding to the M-superfamily conotoxins, has been identified. The identity of the synthetic and natural peptide sequence has been established. A detailed analysis of the conformation in solution is reported for Vi804 and a synthetic analogue, CI(D) WPWC ((D) W3-Vi804), in order to establish the structure of the novel WPW motif, which occurs in the context of a 20-membered macrocyclic disulfide. Vi804 exists exclusively in the cis W3P4 conformer in water and methanol, whereas (D) W3-Vi804 occurs exclusively as the trans conformer. NMR spectra revealed a W3P4 type VI ß turn in Vi804 and a type II' ß turn in the analogue peptide, (D) W3-Vi804. The extremely high-field chemical shifts of the proline ring protons, together with specific nuclear Overhauser effects, are used to establish a conformation in which the proline ring is sandwiched between the flanking Trp residues, which emphasises a stabilising role for the aromatic-proline interactions, mediated predominantly by dispersion forces.

Stabilizing effect of electrostatic vs. aromatic interactions in diproline nucleated peptide ß-hairpins.

The contribution of Tyr-His vs. Cys-His interacting pairs to the scaffold stability of (D)Pro-(L)Pro nucleated peptide ß-hairpins has been examined. We present direct evidence for the superiority of the Cys-His pairs, mediated by sulphur-imidazole interactions, as added stabilizing agents of the ß-hairpin scaffold.

A cationic amphiphilic peptide chaperone rescues Aß42 aggregation and cytotoxicity.

Directing Aß42 to adopt a conformation that is free from aggregation and cell toxicity is an attractive and viable strategy to design therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. Over the years, extensive efforts have been made to disrupt the aggregation of Aß42 using various types of inhibitors but with limited success. Herein, we report the inhibition of aggregation of Aß42 and disintegration of matured fibrils of Aß42 into smaller assemblies by a 15-mer cationic amphiphilic peptide. The biophysical analysis comprising thioflavin T (ThT) mediated amyloid aggregation kinetic analysis, dynamic light scattering, ELISA, AFM, and TEM suggested that the peptide effectively disrupts Aß42 aggregation. The circular dichroism (CD) and 2D-NMR HSQC analysis reveal that upon interaction, the peptide induces a conformational change in Aß42 that is free from aggregation. Further, the cell assay experiments revealed that this peptide is non-toxic to cells and also rescues the cells from the toxicity of Aß42. Peptides with a shorter length displayed either weak or no inhibitory effect on Aß42 aggregation and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the 15-residue cationic amphiphilic peptide reported here may serve as a potential therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease.

Proteolytically Stable ααγ-Hybrid Peptides Inhibit the Aggregation and Cytotoxicity of Aß42.

The recent approval of antibody-based therapy for targeting the clearance of amyloid plaques fuels the research in designing small molecules and peptide inhibitors to target the aggregation of Aß-peptides. Here, we report that the 15-residue ααγ-hybrid peptide not only inhibits the aggregation of soluble Aß42 into fibrils but also disintegrates the aggregated Aß42 fibrils into smaller assemblies. Further, the hybrid peptide completely rescues neuronal cells from the toxicity of Aß42 at equimolar concentrations. The shorter 10- and 12-mer peptides showed weak aggregation inhibition activity, while the fully hydrophobic 15-mer ααγ-hybrid peptide analogue showed no aggregation inhibition activity. Further, the 15-mer ααγ-hybrid peptide showed resistance against trypsin digestion and also nontoxic to the neuronal cells. The CD revealed that the peptide upon interaction induces a helix-type conformation in the Aß42. This is in sharp contrast to the ß-sheet conformation of Aß42 upon incubation. The two-dimensional-NMR (2D-NMR) analysis revealed a large perturbation in the chemical shifts of residues at the N-terminus. The presence of 15-mer peptide at an equimolar concentration of Aß42 showed less tendency for aggregation and also exhibited nontoxicity to the neuronal cells. The results reported here may be useful in designing new therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.

Three-component self-assembly of a series of triply interlocked Pd12 coordination prisms and their non-interlocked Pd6 analogues.

Template-assisted formation of multicomponent Pd(6) coordination prisms and formation of their self-templated triply interlocked Pd(12) analogues in the absence of an external template have been established in a single step through Pd-N/Pd-O coordination. Treatment of cis-[Pd(en)(NO(3))(2)] with K(3) tma and linear pillar 4,4'-bpy (en=ethylenediamine, H(3) tma=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, 4,4'-bpy=4,4'-bipyridine) gave intercalated coordination cage [{Pd(en)}(6)(bpy)(3)(tma)(2)](2)[NO(3)](12) (1) exclusively, whereas the same reaction in the presence of H(3) tma as an aromatic guest gave a H(3) tma-encapsulating non-interlocked discrete Pd(6) molecular prism [{Pd(en)}(6)(bpy)(3)(tma)(2)(H(3)tma)(2)][NO(3)](6) (2). Though the same reaction using cis-[Pd(NO(3))(2)(pn)] (pn=propane-1,2-diamine) instead of cis-[Pd(en)(NO(3))(2)] gave triply interlocked coordination cage [{Pd(pn)}(6)(bpy)(3)(tma)(2)](2)[NO(3)](12) (3) along with non-interlocked Pd(6) analogue [{Pd(pn)}(6)(bpy)(3) (tma)(2)](NO(3))(6) (3'), and the presence of H(3) tma as a guest gave H(3) tma-encapsulating molecular prism [{Pd(pn)}(6)(bpy)(3)(tma)(2)(H(3) tma)(2)][NO(3)](6) (4) exclusively. In solution, the amount of 3' decreases as the temperature is decreased, and in the solid state 3 is the sole product. Notably, an analogous reaction using the relatively short pillar pz (pz=pyrazine) instead of 4,4'-bpy gave triply interlocked coordination cage [{Pd(pn)}(6) (pz)(3)(tma)(2)](2)[NO(3)](12) (5) as the single product. Interestingly, the same reaction using slightly more bulky cis-[Pd(NO(3))(2)(tmen)] (tmen=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene diamine) instead of cis-[Pd(NO(3))(2)(pn)] gave non-interlocked [{Pd(tmen)}(6)(pz)(3)(tma)(2)][NO(3)](6) (6) exclusively. Complexes 1, 3, and 5 represent the first examples of template-free triply interlocked molecular prisms obtained through multicomponent self-assembly. Formation of the complexes was supported by IR and multinuclear NMR ((1)H and (13)C) spectroscopy. Formation of guest-encapsulating complexes (2 and 4) was confirmed by 2D DOSY and ROESY NMR spectroscopic analyses, whereas for complexes 1, 3, 5, and 6 single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques unambiguously confirmed their formation. The gross geometries of H(3) tma-encapsulating complexes 2 and 4 were obtained by universal force field (UFF) simulations.

Helix and hairpin nucleation in short peptides using centrally positioned conformationally constrained dipeptide segments.

The effect of incorporation of a centrally positioned Ac(6)c-Xxx segment where Xxx = (L)Val/(D)Val into a host oligopeptide composed of l-amino acid residues has been investigated. Studies of four designed octapeptides Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-Ac(6)c-Xxx-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (Xxx = (D)Val 1, (L)Val 2) Boc-Leu-Val-Val-Ac(6)c-Xxx-Leu-Val-Val-OMe (Xxx = (D)Val 3, (L)Val 4) are reported. Diagnostic nuclear Overhouse effects characteristic of hairpin conformations are observed for Xxx = (D)Val peptides (1 and 3) while continuous helical conformation characterized by sequential N(i)H ↔ N(i+1)H NOEs are favored for Xxx = (L)Val peptides (2 and 4) in methanol solutions. Temperature co-efficient of NH chemical shifts are in agreement with distinctly different conformational preferences upon changing the configuration of the residue at position 5. Crystal structures of peptides 2 and 4 (Xxx = (L)Val) establish helical conformations in the solid state, in agreement with the structures deduced from NMR data. The results support the design principle that centrally positioned type I ß-turns may be used to nucleate helices in short peptides, while type I'ß-turns can facilitate folding into ß-hairpins.

Conformational investigation of peptides using solid-state NMR spectroscopy-A study of polymorphism of ß-turn peptides containing diprolines.

The construction of complex protein folds relies on the precise conversion of a linear polypeptide chain into a compact 3-dimensional structure. In this context, study of isolated secondary structural modules containing short stretches of amino acids assumes significance. Additionally, peptides, both natural and synthetic, play a major role as potential drugs. With a view to understand the local conformations adopted by peptides in the solid state, we propose a multinuclear NMR approach utilizing spectra of nuclei in their natural isotopic abundance. Various solid-state NMR experiments have been utilized for assignment of the spectra. Additionally, the gauge-including projector augmented-wave (GIPAW) calculations were used to confirm the assignments. Particularly, the utility of the double-quantum-single-quantum correlation experiments is highlighted for the purpose of assignment and for inferring the conformation across the peptide bond. The methodology is illustrated for the case of designed peptides containing diproline residues occurring at the ß-turns for identifying their cis-trans conformational polymorphism. The proposed method promises to be of use in the study of conformations of small- to medium-sized peptides such as antimicrobial peptides and in the study of polymorphism leading to applications in drug development protocols.

Structural insight into hybrid peptide ε-helices.

Unique ε-helical organizations (11-helices) from ß,γ-hybrid peptides composed of chiral ß3-amino acids along with achiral 3,3- or 4,4-dimethyl substituted γ-amino acids are disclosed.

Expanding the peptide beta-turn in alphagamma hybrid sequences: 12 atom hydrogen bonded helical and hairpin turns.

Hybrid peptide segments containing contiguous alpha and gamma amino acid residues can form C(12) hydrogen bonded turns which may be considered as backbone expanded analogues of C(10) (beta-turns) found in alphaalpha segments. Exploration of the regular hydrogen bonded conformations accessible for hybrid alphagamma sequences is facilitated by the use of a stereochemically constrained gamma amino acid residue gabapentin (1-aminomethylcyclohexaneacetic acid, Gpn), in which the two torsion angles about C(gamma)-C(beta) (theta(1)) and C(beta)-C(alpha) (theta(2)) are predominantly restricted to gauche conformations. The crystal structures of the octapeptides Boc-Gpn-Aib-Gpn-Aib-Gpn-Aib-Gpn-Aib-OMe (1) and Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-Aib-Gpn-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (2) reveal two distinct conformations for the Aib-Gpn segment. Peptide 1 forms a continuous helix over the Aib(2)-Aib(6) segment, while the peptide 2 forms a beta-hairpin structure stabilized by four cross-strand hydrogen bonds with the Aib-Gpn segment forming a nonhelical C(12) turn. The robustness of the helix in peptide 1 in solution is demonstrated by NMR methods. Peptide 2 is conformationally fragile in solution with evidence of beta-hairpin conformations being obtained in methanol. Theoretical calculations permit delineation of the various C(12) hydrogen bonded structures which are energetically feasible in alphagamma and gammaalpha sequences.