Protected decapeptide ortho-nitrophenylsulphenyl–(L-leucyl–L-alanyl)5–ethyl ester [nps–(L-leu–L-ala)5–OEt]. Shortest critical peptide size for development of the α-helix in the solid state

Abstract

Conformational studies of a series of oligopeptides having the sequence of alternate L-leucyl and L-alanyl residues in the solid state have revealed that the α-helical conformation begins forming at the decapeptide level, which may be considered as the shortest critical peptide chain length for development of the α-helical conformation in the solid state.