{"title":"Hyperstable and Fibril-Forming Collagen-Mimetic Peptides in Shortest Triple Helices: Empowering the Capping by π-systems.","authors":"Smriti Mukherjee, Vijayakumar Varshashankari, Ancy Feba, Niraikulam Ayyadurai, Kanagasabai Balamurugan, Ganesh Shanmugam","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01455","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Developing collagen-mimetic peptides (CMPs) with short triple helices and fibril-forming ability remains challenging. Herein, we stabilized short CMPs (3-6 GPO repeats) by attaching extended aromatic π-system─fluorenyl groups at the N-terminus and tyrosine at the C-terminus. These modifications promoted triple helix folding through π-π interactions, acting as a \"glue\" to stabilize the structure and facilitate fibrillation. A single fluorenyl cap required 5 GPO repeats for helix formation, while double fluorenyl capping reduced this to 4 repeats. Notably, at pH 5.5, triple helices formed with only 3 GPO repeats. The double-capped CMPs exhibited hyperstability (<i>T</i><sub>m</sub> = 76 °C) and formed fibrillar networks at physiological pH. Biophysical and computational studies confirmed the role of π-π and CH-π interactions, along with hydrogen bonding, in stabilization. The minimalistic CMPs supported cell viability, demonstrating their potential for biomedical applications. This strategy offers a method to design highly stable, short CMPs that form robust fibrillar networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Biomacromolecules","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01455","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Developing collagen-mimetic peptides (CMPs) with short triple helices and fibril-forming ability remains challenging. Herein, we stabilized short CMPs (3-6 GPO repeats) by attaching extended aromatic π-system─fluorenyl groups at the N-terminus and tyrosine at the C-terminus. These modifications promoted triple helix folding through π-π interactions, acting as a "glue" to stabilize the structure and facilitate fibrillation. A single fluorenyl cap required 5 GPO repeats for helix formation, while double fluorenyl capping reduced this to 4 repeats. Notably, at pH 5.5, triple helices formed with only 3 GPO repeats. The double-capped CMPs exhibited hyperstability (Tm = 76 °C) and formed fibrillar networks at physiological pH. Biophysical and computational studies confirmed the role of π-π and CH-π interactions, along with hydrogen bonding, in stabilization. The minimalistic CMPs supported cell viability, demonstrating their potential for biomedical applications. This strategy offers a method to design highly stable, short CMPs that form robust fibrillar networks.
期刊介绍:
Biomacromolecules is a leading forum for the dissemination of cutting-edge research at the interface of polymer science and biology. Submissions to Biomacromolecules should contain strong elements of innovation in terms of macromolecular design, synthesis and characterization, or in the application of polymer materials to biology and medicine.
Topics covered by Biomacromolecules include, but are not exclusively limited to: sustainable polymers, polymers based on natural and renewable resources, degradable polymers, polymer conjugates, polymeric drugs, polymers in biocatalysis, biomacromolecular assembly, biomimetic polymers, polymer-biomineral hybrids, biomimetic-polymer processing, polymer recycling, bioactive polymer surfaces, original polymer design for biomedical applications such as immunotherapy, drug delivery, gene delivery, antimicrobial applications, diagnostic imaging and biosensing, polymers in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, polymeric scaffolds and hydrogels for cell culture and delivery.