PHONON-DISPERSION, OLIGO-MAPPING AND HEAT-CAPACITY IN BETA-POLY(L-VALINE)

Poly-L-Valine (PLV) belongs to the class of polyamino acids having a b ulky side chain. It preferably adopts beta-sheet conformation, althoug h high molecular weight PLV may form an a helix as well. In the presen t communication we report a detailed study of the phonons and their di spersion for beta-PLV and the spectra of oligovalines in relation to i ts polymeric form. The N-deuterated analog of beta-PLV has also been s tudied to check the correctness of assignments and force-held. Density -of-states and hear capacity have been obtained. The heat capacity is in very good agreement with the experimental measurements of Roles et at, Biopolymers, 33 (1993) 753.