Surface simulation synthesis: a new strategy to spy alpha-helix structure.

In key proteins, there are always some alpha-helix structures, which play important role in the structure and functions. Many epitopes lie on the surface of alpha-helix. These epitopes are not easy to be recruited into the vaccine development, because they are conformation dependent epitopes. Can such epitopes on alpha-helix be mimicked synthetically? Our findings undoubtedly validate the feasibility of surface simulation synthesis with short linear peptide to mimic the antigenic side of alpha-helix structure.