Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Peptide-porphyrin Nanowires

Katie Hart
Haverford College

Engineering peptide-based nanostructures requires understanding the forces involved in peptide and peptide conjugate aggregation. Coiled coils represent one well-characterized motif that has been used widely in de novo protein design, but the effects of covalent modification on coiled coil folding have not been thoroughly investigated. Accessory molecules can lend functionality if they are successfully integrated into the system. Porphyrins, which facilitate electron transfer and are of particular interest in constructing nanowires, have complicated aggregating properties of their own, which could compliment or counter an observed peptide fold. This project aims to design and characterize a nanowire by exploiting a polymerizing coiled coil system, the Cyclone Peptide Polymer, as a scaffold on which strategically situated porphyrins are attached. In process of peptide purification, it was discovered that a new polymer was forming. The system??s properties are investigated.