Insight into β -hairpin stability: a structural and thermodynamic study of diastereomeric β-hairpin mimetics

Journal article, 2002

Two diastereomers of a model β-hairpin peptide mimetic were synthesized and studied with a combination of experimental (NMR, X-ray, CD, MS, IR) and computational methods (Monte Carlo/molecular mechanics calculations). The secondary structure-stabilizing effects of hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding were investigated. Comparison of the extent of folded hairpin population in non-competitive, polar aprotic, and polar protic solvents illustrates the critical role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on hairpin stability. Investigation of 1H NMR melting curves of the diastereomeric compounds in a variety of solvents allowed an evaluation of the role of hydrophobic effects on secondary structure stabilization to be made.