Rational Design of a Porous Supramolecular Peptide Framework (SPF): A Crystalline Tetraproline in the Polyproline II Conformation

Herein, we present the first high resolution single crystal structure of an unfunctionalized tetrameric proline in the poly-proline II conformation. This rationally designed oligoproline tetramer, self-assembles to form a permanently porous crys-talline supramolecular peptide framework (SPF). Thermal activation, guest inclusion and thermally induced release of chemical guests have been demonstrated for this novel system. This discovery provides a conclusive insight into the pre-viously ambiguous conformation of short oligoprolines and will allow for the further development of proline-based pep-tide linkers in the rational design of SPFs and metal-peptide frameworks.

Remarkably high solvatochromism in the circular dichroism spectra of the polyproline-II conformation: limitations or new opportunities?

Circular dichroism is a conventional method for studying the secondary structures of peptides and proteins and their transitions. While certain circular dichroism features are characteristic of α-helices and β-strands, the...

Structural Perspective of Gliadin Peptides Active in Celiac Disease

Gluten fragments released in gut of celiac individuals activate the innate or adaptive immune systems. The molecular mechanisms associated with the adaptive response involve a series of immunodominant gluten peptides which are mainly recognized by human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ8. Other peptides, such as A-gliadin P31–43, are not recognized by HLA and trigger innate responses by several routes not yet well detailed. Among the gluten fragments known to be active in Celiac disease, here we focus on the properties of all gluten peptides with known tri-dimensional structure either those locked into HLA-DQ complexes whose crystals were X-ray analyzed or characterized in solution as free forms. The aim of this work was to find the structural reasons why some gluten peptides prompt the adaptive immune systems while others do not, by apparently involving just the innate immune routes. We propose that P31–43 is a non-adaptive prompter because it is not a good ligand for HLA-DQ. Even sharing a similar ability to adopt polyproline II structure with the adaptive ones, the way in which the proline residues are located along the sequence disfavors a productive P31–43-HLA-DQ binding.