title: Giant amino acids designed on the polysaccharide scaffold and their protein-like structural interconversion.
abstract: Amphoteric β-1,3-glucans possessing both amino groups and carboxylic acid groups on the C6 positions of glucose units were designed and synthesized from naturally produced curdlan. The amphoteric polysaccharides showed the isoelectric point and the pH responsive interconversion between the original triple helix and single-stranded random structures. Since the pH dependences are comparable to the typical properties of proteins, the polysaccharides can be considered as a new class of giant amino acids. Utilizing the pH responsiveness, pH-controlled catch-and-release has been realized for cationic peptides or anionic DNA. We believe that the amphoteric polysaccharide can act as a new potential polymer to construct stimuli-responsive smart materials on the basis of the polysaccharide scaffold.
authors: Department of Nanoscience Sojo University 4-22-1 Ikeda, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto 860-0082, Japan. stamaru@nano.sojo-u.ac.jp.
authors: Shun-ichi
authors: S
authors: Tamaru
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Tokunaga
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Hori
authors: Sayaka
authors: S
authors: Matsuda
authors: Seiji
authors: S
authors: Shinkai
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D015195:Drug Design; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011506:Proteins; D047071:beta-Glucans; C038459:curdlan