title: Self-assembly of surfactant-like peptides.
abstract: Inspired by recent work describing surfactant-like peptides, we have carried out a systematic study on peptides with the underlying composition of V6D2, altering the absolute sequence to determine the importance of the surfactant-like structure. All of the peptides examined here formed self-assembled structures in water. However, in contrast to other reports, we have found a surprising diversity of structures including fibers, tapes, and twisted ribbons but an absence of the vesicles and nanotubes described previously. Further investigations demonstrated that peptide purity plays a significant role in the outcome of the self-assembly. Different batches behave very differently, which can be linked to the compositions of these batches. This work shows that there is a need for not only rational design but also ease of synthesis of the building blocks for self-assembled structures.
authors.affiliation: Unilever Corporate Research, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK. dave.adams@unilever.com
authors.forename: Dave J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holtzmann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water