Kinetic Study on Conformational Changes of Poly(l-lysine) in Sodium Alkyl Sulfate Solutions. Effects of Surfactant Chain Length and Added NaCl

Abstract

Abstract The conformational changes of poly(l-lysine) (PLL) were observed in alkyl sulfate solutions by a circular dichroic method. PLL forms a β-structure in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution with an apparent first-order rate constant of 3.0×10−2 s−1 (20 °C). In sodium octyl sulfate (SOS) solution, PLL assumes the α-helix within a certain concentration range of the surfactant, above which the β-structure is favored. The rate of coil to β-structure transition slows down with increase in hydrophobic interaction between surfactants and PLL. The presence of sodium ions decreases the rate of coil to α-helix transition by about two orders of magnitude (2.0×10−1 s−1 salt free to 3.0×10−3 s−1 in the presence of 2.0×10−2 mol/dm3 NaCl at 20 °C). These phenomena are explained in terms of a rearrangement process of bound surfactants adjusting for a free energy minimum; a stronger binding force brings about a slower rearrangement rate.