Atomistic fibrillar architectures of polar prion-inspired heptapeptides

Chem Sci. 2020 Nov 2;11(48):13143-13151. doi: 10.1039/d0sc05638c.

Abstract

This article provides the computational prediction of the atomistic architectures resulting from self-assembly of the polar heptapeptide sequences NYNYNYN, SYSYSYS and GYGYGYG. Using a combination of molecular dynamics and a newly developed tool for non-covalent interaction analysis, we uncover the properties of a new class of bionanomaterials, including hydrogen-bonded polar zippers, and the relationship between peptide composition, fibril geometry and weak interaction networks. Our results, corroborated by experimental observations, provide the basis for the rational design of prion-inspired nanomaterials.