J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130 (49), pp 16515–16517

Using a Sterically Restrictive Amino Acid as a 19F NMR label To Monitor and To Control Peptide Aggregation in Membranes

Parvesh Wadhwani†, Jochen Bürck†, Erik Strandberg†, Christian Mink†, Sergii Afonin† and Anne S. Ulrich*†‡

Abstract
Aggregation of peptides into amyloid fibrils or other β-sheet structures is usually related to malfunction. This process is often induced by lipid bilayers but is difficult to monitor in the membrane-bound state. Here, we show how aggregation is readily detected by solid state 19F NMR using a fluorine-labeled amino acid and how the same sterically rigid side chain can be also be employed to prevent aggregation. Selective CF3-phenylglycine labels were incorporated either as the L- or D-enantiomer into the membrane-active model amphiphilic peptide (MAP). Oriented circular dichroism showed that the D-epimeric peptides maintained an α-helical conformation in DMPC at all peptide-to-lipid ratios, while the L-epimers turned into β-sheet structures above 1:200, just like the wild-type. Aggregation was clearly revealed by the appearance of powder lineshapes in the 19F NMR spectra of oriented samples. The 19F NMR dipolar couplings from four D-epimers were analyzed as orientational constraints, showing that the helix of MAP undergoes a concentration-dependent realignment in DMPC from a surface-bound to a tilted state.