Binding of Lanthanide Complexes to Histidine-Containing Peptides Probed by Raman Optical Activity Spectroscopy.

Lanthanide complexes are used as convenient spectroscopic probes for many biomolecules. Their binding to proteins is believed to be enhanced by the presence of histidine, but the strength of the interaction significantly varies across different systems. To understand the role of peptide length and sequence, short histidine-containing peptides have been synthesized (His-Gly, His-Gly-Gly, His-Gly-Gly-Gly, Gly-His, Gly-His-Gly, His-His, and Gly-Gly-His) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) induced at the [Eu(dpa) ] complex has been measured by means of a Raman optical activity (ROA) spectrometer.