Intra-molecular cross-linking of helical polypeptide chains

摘要

A polymeric molecule in the form of a helix in which turns of the helix are linked to one another through chemical linkages. The polymer may take the form of a polypeptide chain which has spontaneously formed into an alpha -helix. The helix is then stabilised by linking turns of the helix to one another by reacting together the side chains of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain. Depending on the amino acids used these linkages may be esters, disulphide bridges, am ides, others, acid anhydrides or ionic linkages. Synthesis of novel amino acids with two side chains could allow an amino acid to be linked to the turns of the helix both above and below it.