Time-lapse atomic force microscopy observations of the morphology, growth rate, and spontaneous alignment of nanofibers containing a peptide-amphiphile from the hepatitis G virus (NS3 protein).

Time-lapse atomic force microscopy is used in this contribution to directly watch the growth of nanofibers of a lipidated peptide on a mica surface. Specifically, the studied lipopeptide is the palmitoyl derivative of the fragment 505-514 of NS3 protein from the hepatitis G virus, abbreviated as Palmitoyl-NS3 (505-514). Data on the morphology, growth rate, and orientation of these peptide-amphiphile nanofibers have been obtained.

Interaction of lipidated GBV-C/HGV NS3 (513-522) and (505-514) peptides with phospholipids monolayer. An AFM study.

Lipidation of a short hydrophilic peptide has the aim to make the molecule amphiphilic, which improves its insertion into lipid monolayer and at the same time, the tendency to self-assembly. These both properties of two positively charged, hepatitis G (GBV-C/HGV) related lipidated peptides--palmitic acid derivatives of the fragments: 505-514 and the 513-522 of the NS3 protein (respectively Palmitoyl-SAELSMQRRG and Palmitoyl-RGRTGRGRSG) were studied. First, using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) the tendency to self-assembly in water solution was examined.