The effects of helix-making solvent (DMF), helix-breaking solvents (dichloroacetic acid (DCA), trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)) and denaturantforproteins (urea) on the conformation of poly (-benzyl-Laspartate) (PBLA) monolayers at the air/water interface were investigated by themonolayer technique and the polarized infrared spectroscopy for the collapsed films.
In the presence of urea in the subsolution, the monolayers of PBLA expand and the film transition pressures increase.This may be ascribedtothe breakdown of the hydrophobic hydrated structure around the film in the interfacial region by the action of urea.
In the presence of DMF, DCA and TFA in the subsolutions, the film transition pressures decrease in accordance with the lowering of surfacetension of the subsolutions.From this fact, it seems likely that the conformation of PBLA at the surface is independent of the kinds ofsubsolution.
Polarized infrared spectra of thecollapsed monolayers showed that irrespective of the kinds of subsolution PBLA molecules at the surfaceare in the right handed a-helical conformation different from the left handed a-helical one in the solid state.
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