β-Azidoalanine as an IR probe: Application to amyloid Aβ(16-22) aggregation

Kwang Im Oh, Joo Hyun Lee, Cheonik Joo, Hogyu Han, Minhaeng Cho

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    114 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    β-Azidoalanine dipeptide 1 was synthesized, and its azido stretching vibration in H2O and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was studied by using Fourier transform (FT) IR spectroscopy. The dipole strength of the azido stretch mode is found to be about 19 and 5 times larger than those of the CN and SCN stretch modes, respectively, which have been used as local environmental IR sensors. The azido stretch band in H2O is blue-shifted by about 14 cm-1 in comparison to that in DMSO, indicative of its sensitivity to the electrostatic environment. To test the utility of β-azidoalanine as an IR probe of the local electrostatic environment in proteins, azidopeptide 4 was prepared by its incorporation into Aβ(16-22) peptide of the Alzheimer's disease amyloid β-protein at position Ala21. The amide I IR spectrum of 4 in D2O suggests that the azidopeptide thus modified forms in-register β-sheets in aggregates as observed for normal Aβ(16-22). The azido peak frequency of 4 in aggregates is almost identical to that in DMSO, indicating that the azido group is not exposed to water but to the hydrophobic environment. We believe that β-azidoalanine will be used as an effective IR probe for providing site-specific information about the local electrostatic environments of proteins.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)10352-10357
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
    Volume112
    Issue number33
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008 Aug 21

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
    • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
    • Materials Chemistry

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