ORGN 452 |
| We have recently designed a new family of molecules that are capable of self-assembly. Our molecules comprise leucine-zippers, a helical peptide motif, tethered to a dendrimer core. We have interrogated the ability of these supramolecules to sustain self-assembly of matching leucing-zipper peptides utilizing circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and sedimentation equilibrium experiments. Our results clearly demonstrate that when Jun leucine zippers are attached to the dendrimeric core they sustain the self-assembly of four copies of the Fos peptide which can be further modified for instantaneous multivalent display. We also demonstrate that a electrostatically matched coiled-coil peptide pair capable of forming tetramers allows for the assembly of discrete self-assembled supramolecules and fibrous supramolecular assemblies that span the nanometer to micrometer regime. This leucine-zipper tethered dendrimer approach will allow for both multivalent display and construction of large self-organizing helical structures for a variety of applications. |
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Bioorganic, Metal-Mediated Reactions, and Molecular Recognition
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Tuesday, 30 August 2005 Washington DC Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Organic Chemistry |