Volume 10, Issue 1 pp. 84-86
Communication

Biosynthesis and Stability of Coiled-Coil Peptides Containing (2S,4R)-5,5,5-Trifluoroleucine and (2S,4S)-5,5,5-Trifluoroleucine

Jin Kim Montclare Prof.

Jin Kim Montclare Prof.

Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Polytechnic University, Department of Biochemistry, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203 (USA)

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Soojin Son Dr.

Soojin Son Dr.

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (USA), Fax: (+1) 626-793-8472

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Ginevra A. Clark

Ginevra A. Clark

Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)

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Krishna Kumar Prof.

Krishna Kumar Prof.

Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)

Cancer Center, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02110 (USA)

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David A. Tirrell Prof.

David A. Tirrell Prof.

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (USA), Fax: (+1) 626-793-8472

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First published: 29 December 2008
Citations: 64

Graphical Abstract

Life in stereo: We report the effects of 5,5,5-trifluoroleucine (TFL) stereochemistry on coiled-coil peptide biosynthesis and stability. We demonstrate that two diastereoisomers of TFL are activated and incorporated into peptides expressed in E. coli. Coiled-coil homodimers of these peptides exhibited increased stability. An equimolar mixture of the two fluorinated peptides formed a heterodimer of modestly enhanced thermal stability relative to the homodimers (see figure).