A Natural Interruption Displays Higher Global Stability and Local Conformational Flexibility than a Similar Gly Mutation Sequence in Collagen Mimic Peptides

Xiuxia Sun, Yalin Chai, Qianqian Wang, Huanxiang Liu, Shaoru Wang, Jianxi Xiao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Natural interruptions in the repeating (Gly-X-Y)n amino acid sequence pattern are found normally in triple helix domains of all nonfibrillar collagens, while any Gly substitution in fibrillar collagens leads to pathological conditions. As revealed by our sequence analysis, two peptides, one modeling a natural G5G interruption (POALO) and the other one mimicking a pathological Gly-to-Ala substitution (LOAPO), are designed. Circular dichroism (CD), NMR, and computational simulation studies have discovered significant differences in stability, conformation, and folding between the two peptides. Compared with the Gly substitution sequence, the natural interruption maintains higher stability, higher triple helix content, and a higher folding rate while introducing more alterations in local triple helical conformation in terms of dihedral angles and hydrogen bonding. The conserved hydrophobic residues at the specific sites of interruptions may provide functional constraints for higher-order assembly as well as biomolecular interactions. These results suggest a molecular basis of different biological roles of natural interruptions and Gly substitutions and may guide the design of collagen mimic peptides containing functional natural interruptions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6106-6113
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemistry
Volume54
Issue number39
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Oct 2015
Externally publishedYes

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