Molecules (Nov 2020)

Impact of C-Terminal Chemistry on Self-Assembled Morphology of Guanosine Containing Nucleopeptides

  • Katherine Boback,
  • Katherine Bacchi,
  • Sarah O’Neill,
  • Samantha Brown,
  • Jovelt Dorsainvil,
  • Jillian E. Smith-Carpenter

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235493
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 23
p. 5493

Abstract

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Herein, we report the design and characterization of guanosine-containing self-assembling nucleopeptides that form nanosheets and nanofibers. Through spectroscopy and microscopy analysis, we propose that the peptide component of the nucleopeptide drives the assembly into β-sheet structures with hydrogen-bonded guanosine forming additional secondary structures cooperatively within the peptide framework. Interestingly, the distinct supramolecular morphologies are driven not by metal cation responsiveness common to guanine-based materials, but by the C-terminal peptide chemistry. This work highlights the structural diversity of self-assembling nucleopeptides and will help advance the development of applications for these supramolecular guanosine-containing nucleopeptides.

Keywords