Light-induced effects in glycine aqueous solution studied by Fourier transform infrared-emission spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy.

Although amino acids are insensitive to visible light, as is generally accepted, we show that particular light-matter interaction can break this obviousness. Using sensitive (FT-IR)-technique in a combination of a broadband visible light source, we registered emission spectra of glycine in the range 2500-500 cm. Sensitivity of the infrared emission spectrum to the exciting power -induced changes in the glycine structure was demonstrated experimentally.

A new synthetic all-D-peptide with high bacterial and low mammalian cytotoxicity.

Using the synthetic alpha-helical peptide ((RLA)(2)R)(2) as a model the effect of net charge, helicity, and epimeric nature of the peptide on bactericidal potency has been examined. Both the nature and the extent of the net charge were shown to be relatively important for antibacterial activity. The loss of the structured character of the peptide resulted in reducing the activity.