abstract
We describe a systematic analysis of non-aromatic fluorescence (NAF)-emitting peptides in solution and show that short peptides derived from zwitterionic single alpha helices (SAHs), formed exclusively by non-aromatic lysine and glutamic acid residues, are UV active and luminescent at near-UV wavelengths in solution (1exc = 320 nm; 1em approximate to 420 nm). We also show that their emission depends on the alpha-helical folding, which favors intramolecular through-space interactions between the Lys/Glu side chains, and that conservative mutations, such as the replacement of Lys by Orn or Arg, strongly influence the NAF emission.
keywords
PROTEIN SIDE-CHAIN; ABSORPTION; PREDICTION; PARAMETERS
subject category
Chemistry; Energy & Fuels; Materials Science; Physics
authors
González-González, C; Lopez-Blanco, R; González-Vera, JA; D'Ingiullo, S; Bouzada, D; Melle-Franco, M; Orte, A; Vázquez, ME
our authors
Manuel Melle-Franco
Principal ResearcherProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
acknowledgements
We are thankful for grants PID2021-127702NB-I 00 and PID2020-114256RB-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/5011000 11033 and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "A way of making Europe"; grant TED2021-131641B-C41, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR; and grant P21_00212, funded by FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades. This work received financial support from the Xunta de Galicia (Centro de investigacion do Sistema universitario de Galicia accreditation 2023-2027, ED431G 2023/03); the European Union (ERDF); and the Conselleria de Cultura, Educacion e Universidades da Xunta de Galicia GRC grant ED431C 2021/29. Support within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/50011/2020), UIDP/50011/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/50011/2020), and LA/P/0006/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0006/2020), financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), is gratefully acknowledged. We are also thankful for funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 964593.