title: Folding and dimerization of the ionic peptide EAK 16-IV.
abstract: Folding and dimerization of an ionic polyalanine-based peptide chain (EAK16-IV) are simulated with nonspecific interactions. It is found that there is a competition between two kinds of structural motifs under different strengths of electrostatic interactions. The dominance of hairpin-like structures would be realized with a strong electrostatic interaction both thermodynamically and kinetically, showing the importance of the electrostatic interaction on the formation of hairpin-like structures. Simulations on the dimerization with strong electrostatic interaction are also carried out. It is found that the concentration contributes essentially to the shape of the dimers. These studies demonstrate that the strong interactions and kinetic factors might be important for the ordered amyloid aggregates.
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, 210093, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D019281:Dimerization; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017510:Protein Folding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D055672:Static Electricity; D013816:Thermodynamics; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: C530143:EAK 16-IV peptide; D010455:Peptides