Alpha-helix and mixed 3(10)/alpha-helix in cocrystallized conformers of Boc-Aib-Val-Aib-Aib-Val-Val-Val-Aib-Val-Aib-OMe

Abstract

Two molecules of Boc-Aib-Val-Aib-Aib-Val-Val-Val-Aib-Val-Aib-OMe (where Boc is t-butoxycarbonyl and Aib is alpha-aminoisobutyryl) cocrystallize in a triclinic cell with different helical conformations. One molecule is completely alpha-helical with seven 5----1 intramolecular hydrogen bonds. It forms three head-to-tail NH...O = C hydrogen bonds to other molecules of the same conformation. The second molecule has a mixed 3(10)/alpha-helix conformation with three 4----1 hydrogen bonds and four 5----1 hydrogen bonds; furthermore, there is a helix reversal at both termini. The second molecule forms only two head-to-tail hydrogen bonds with molecules of the same type, and the N(3)H group does not participate in any hydrogen bonding. The two different types of helices occur in alternate sheets in the crystal, where each sheet is composed of adjacent rods of helices formed by head-to-tail hydrogen bonding. Within each sheet, containing helices of only one type of conformation, the helices aggregate in a parallel mode. Between the sheets of different helices, the aggregation is antiparallel. The peptide, with formula C51H92N10O13, crystallizes in space group P1 with Z = 2 and cell parameters a = 10.047 +/- 0.002 A, b = 16.684 +/- 0.003 A, c = 19.198 +/- 0.004 A, alpha = 80.30 degrees +/- 0.01 degrees, beta = 85.74 degrees +/- 0.01 degrees, and gamma = 83.03 degrees +/- 0.01 degrees; overall agreement factor R = 6.7% for 6053 data ([F0] greater than 3 sigma) and 0.96-A resolution.