Enol-to-keto tautomerism of peptide groups

J Phys Chem B. 2006 Mar 9;110(9):4443-50. doi: 10.1021/jp056250p.

Abstract

Density functional based simulations, performed on polyglycine containing an enol peptide group [-C(OH)N-] which is a structural isomer of a keto form [-CONH-], show that in the enol-to-keto tautomeric reaction, the enol peptide group is less stable than the keto form, and that the enol-to-keto tautomerism is characterized by a cis/trans isomerization of the C-N peptide bond. The rate-limiting step in the cis/trans isomerization is a hydrogen migration from O to N atoms in the peptide group with a transition state consisting of a four-membered ring in the cis configuration. An analysis of the cis/trans isomerization pathway shows that the mechanisms for the cis/trans isomerization are essentially different between the enol and keto forms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Computer Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Peptides