Synthesis and structural characterization of poly(LGGVG), an elastin-like polypeptide

Poly(LGGVG) a potential elastin-like biomaterial has been synthesized and s tudied both in solution (by circular dicroism and nuclear magnetic resonanc e) and in the aggregated state (by transmission electron microscopy). For s ake of comparison, also the conformation of the protected (Boc-LGGVG-OEt) a nd free (H-2(+)-LGGVG-OH) 'monomers' has been investigated. While in the la tter ones the presence has been evidenced of more or less stable type LI be ta-turns, the polymer showed a conformational ensemble, possibly comprising type II beta-turns, type I beta-turns and open (unordered) structures. At supramolecular level, twisted-rope aggregates were observed by transmission electron microscopy for the polymer. Thus, the title compound has shown to possess, at both molecular and supramolecular level, physico-chemical prop erties very similar to those of elastin, so to give some confidence that it could really constitute the precursor of an artificial substitute of elast in itself. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.