Conformational studies of poly(N-Ω-hydroxyalkyl-L-glutamine)s in reversed micelles.

The molecular conformations of poly(N-dihydroxyethylaminopropyl-L-glutamine) and poly(N-dihydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) were investigated in reversed micelles of AOT as well as in aqueous solutions. Both poly( α-amino acid)s assume disordered structures in pure water. The conformation of poly(N-dihydroxyethylaminopropyl-L-glutamine) transits into α-helix in the reversed micelles as the molar ratio of water to AOT (w=[HO]/[AOT]) becomes smaller. A similar conformational transition was also observed in aqueous solutions when a certain amount of AOT was added. Under these conditions, however, poly(N-dihydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) did not undergo a conformational transition into α-helix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]