Single-molecule electrophoresis of beta-hairpin peptides by electrical recordings and Langevin dynamics simulations

J Phys Chem B. 2007 Apr 5;111(13):3332-5. doi: 10.1021/jp071364h. Epub 2007 Mar 13.

Abstract

We used single-channel electrical recordings and Langevin molecular dynamics simulations to explore the electrophoretic translocation of various beta-hairpin peptides across the staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin (alphaHL) protein pore at single-molecule resolution. The beta-hairpin peptides, which varied in their folding properties, corresponded to the C terminal residues of the B1 domain of protein G. The translocation time was strongly dependent on the electric force and was correlated with the folding features of the beta-hairpin peptides. Highly unfolded peptides entered the pore in an extended conformation, resulting in fast single-file translocation events. In contrast, the translocation of the folded beta-hairpin peptides occurred more slowly. In this case, the beta-hairpin peptides traversed the alphaHL pore in a misfolded or fully folded conformation. This study demonstrates that the interaction between a polypeptide and a beta-barrel protein pore is dependent on the folding features of the polypeptide.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Toxins / chemistry*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electrophoresis / methods
  • Hemolysin Proteins / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Transport

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • IgG Fc-binding protein, Streptococcus
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Peptides
  • staphylococcal alpha-toxin