The solution behavior of poly‐L‐proline: I. Light scattering studies in water and concentrated aqueous neutral salt solutions

Abstract

AbstractThe solution bebavior of poly‐L‐proline Form II has been studied in water and aqueous salt solutions by both elastic and quasi‐elastic light ‐scattering techniques. The results of this study suggest that polyproline Form II can exist in water at 24 °C as an associated polymer complex and that certain salts which do not appear to affect the helix integrity, e.g., guanidinium‐HCl, resutl in dissociation of the aggregate. Other neutral salts, of the variety effective in mediating unfolding of the Form II helix (e.g., 4M NaClO4) also induce aggregate dissociation, but 4M CaCl2 results in enhanced aggregation of polyproline. Kinetic experiments indicate that a time of 20 hours is necessary for the completion of the “large” to “small” transformation (at 22°C) which is induced by the addition of 4M NaClO4. Thus it appears that neutral salts additives in aqueous solutions of polyproline influence both the state of aggregation and the conformation of this polymer.