Structure, dynamics, and hydration of a collagen model polypeptide, (L-prolyl-L-prolylglycyl)10, in aqueous media: a chemical equilibrium analysis of triple helix-to-single coil transition.

The structure, dynamics, and hydration behavior of a collagen model polypeptide, (L-prolyl-L-prolylglycyl)(10) (PPG10), were investigated in pure water and dilute acetic acid over a wide temperature range using broadband dielectric relaxation (DR) techniques that spanned frequencies from 1 kHz to 20 GHz. All samples showed pronounced dielectric dispersion with two major relaxation processes around 3 MHz and 20 GHz. Because DR measurements sensitively probe dipoles and their dynamics, the structures and ionization states of the carboxy and amino termini of aqueous PPG10 were precisely determined from the relaxation times and strengths in the 3 MHz frequency range.

Dynamics and hydration behavior of a short collagen model polypeptide, (L-prolyl-L-prolylglycyl)5, in aqueous media.

A short collagen model polypeptide, (l-prolyl-l-prolylglycyl)(5) (PPG5), behaves as a fully dissociated flexible zwitterionic polymer chain in pure water. Its first and third normal modes of chain conformational fluctuation were detected as distinct dielectric relaxation modes. Addition of acetic acid at 30 mM to an aqueous solution of PPG5 effectively suppressed the overall relaxation strength by protonation of the carboxy termini of the polypeptide.