EFFECT OF ALPHA-HYDROXYMETHYLSERINE RESIDUE ON BINDING ABILITY OF OLIGOPEPTIDES TO CU2+ IONS

Potentiometric and spectroscopic data have shown that alpha-hydroxymet hyl-L-serine residue may play an important role in the coordination of tripeptides to Cu2+ ions. The alcoholic groups in the amino acid side chain are very effective in the stabilization of the complexes formed . It is also likely that at basic solutions, the alcoholic group may d issociate proton and bind to metal ion directly via the O- oxygen. The increase in stability is up to 3.7 orders of magnitude when compared to simple tri-Ala containing systems. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.