title: Synthesis and single-molecule studies of a well-defined biomimetic modular multidomain polymer using a peptidomimetic beta-sheet module.
abstract: In the pursuit of advanced biomaterials with combined strength, toughness, and elasticity, a new class of well-defined modular polymers has been synthesized, and their nanomechanical properties have been studied using atomic force microscopy. These polymers are based on a peptidomimetic beta-sheet-based double-closed loop (DCL) module, which was designed to overcome the limitation of the modular polymers we reported previously (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 2059). Single-molecule force-extension experiments revealed the sequential unfolding of these modules as the polymer is stretched, resulting in more regular sawtooth-patterned curves similar to those seen in titin and other biopolymers. The single-molecule data agreed well with computer modeling, which suggested that hydrogen bonding and pi-stacking are both involved in the formation of small DCL clusters along the polymer chain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California at Irvine, 516 Rowland Hall, Irvine, California 92697-2025, USA.
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Zhibin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007700:Kinetics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C109276:2-ureido-4-pyrimidone; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D011744:Pyrimidinones