Oscillator strength of the peptide bondπ∗resonances at all relevant x-ray absorption edges

Abstract

Absolute x-ray absorption cross sections of a regular bacterial surface-layer protein deposited on a naturally oxidized silicon substrate were determined experimentally. Upon separation of the partial cross sections of the three relevant 1s absorption edges, the oscillator strengths of the 1s{yields}{pi}* excitations within the peptide-backbone unit were extracted. Comparison with results of first-principles calculations revealed their close correlation to the topology of {pi}{sub peptide}* orbitals of the peptide backbone.