New Insight into the Structural Nature of Diphenylalanine Nanotube through Comparison with Amyloid Assemblies

Langmuir. 2024 Jan 9;40(1):1046-1057. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03270. Epub 2023 Dec 28.

Abstract

Diphenylalanine (FF) nanotubes are a star material in the field of peptide self-assembly and have demonstrated numerous intriguing applications. Due to its resemblance to amyloid assembly, the FF nanotube is widely regarded as a simplified mimic of amyloids. Yet, whether FF nanotube truly possesses amyloid structure remains an open question. To better understand the structural nature of FF nanotube, we herein performed a comparative structural investigation between FF nanotube and typical amyloid systems by Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42, Aβ16-22, Aβ13-23, α-synuclein, and lysozyme using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Through this comparative investigation, we obtained clear evidence to support that the FF nanotube does not possess a β-sheet structure, a key structural characteristic of amyloid assembly, thus revealing the non-amyloid structural nature of the FF nanotube. At last, in light of our new finding, we further discussed the unique self-assembly behaviors of FF during nanotube formation and the implications of our work for FF nanotube related applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins
  • Dipeptides*
  • Nanotubes* / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry

Substances

  • diphenylalanine
  • Dipeptides
  • Peptides
  • Amyloid
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins