title: D X Ala3 analog of elastin polypentapeptide. An elastomer with an increased young's modulus.
abstract: The polypentapeptide , H(L X Val1-L X Pro2-D X Ala3-L X Val4- Gly5 )n Val-OMe which is the D X Ala3 analog of the elastomeric polypentapeptide (PPP) of elastin, (L X Val1-L X Pro2-Gly3-L X Val4- Gly5 )n, has been synthesized. Its conformation is compared to that of the PPP and found to be similar with a somewhat stabilized beta-turn. The D X Ala3 analog coacervates to form a more cohesive viscoelastic material and the coacervate when cross-linked by gamma-irradiation exhibits an approximate doubling of the Young's modulus of elasticity. These results are discussed in connection with other related analogs of the polypentapeptide of elastin, which are non-elastomeric, and found to be consistent with a proposed conformationally based librational entropy mechanism of elasticity.
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; C033943:elastin polypentapeptide