The Yin and Yang of How N-Terminal Acyl Caps Affect Collagen Triple Helices

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00241
• Publication Date: 2023-05-25T15:20:11Z
• Authors: Tomas Fiala; Rahel Heeb; Luca Vigliotti; Helma Wennemers
• Keywords: Affect

N-terminal acylation is a common tool for the installation of functional moieties (e.g., sensors or bioactive molecules) on collagen model peptides (CMPs). The N-acyl group and its length are generally assumed to have little no influence properties triple helix formed by CMP. Here, we show that short (C1–C4) acyl capping groups has different effects thermal stability helices in POG, OGP, GPO frames. While effect frame negligible, longer chains stabilize OGP but destabilize POG analogues. observed trends arise from combination steric repulsion, hydrophobic effect, n → π* interactions. Our study provides basis design N-terminally functionalized CMPs with predictable stability.