Encapsulation of Novel Optoelectronic Cofactors into Amphiphilic 4-helix Bundle Peptides

J. Kent Blasie & Michael J. Therien

Objectives:
Novel non-biological cofactors are based on p-electron systems that extend throughout the electron donor-bridge-acceptor components of a single cofactor. Such cofactors can possess both novel electronic and optical properties tailored by design. Amphiphilic 4-helix bundle peptides are designed to specifically bind a number of these novel cofactors in a vectorial manner within the bundle. The amphiphilic nature provides for their unique vectorial orientation in the laboratory frame, e.g., at a “soft” interface between polar and non-polar media or on an electrode surface.

Scientific Strategy & Impact:
The work (Blasie) concerns the detailed intra-molecular structures & inter-molecular ordering of the peptide-cofactor complexes on electrode surfaces utilizing the techniques of x-ray & neutron scattering and polarized absorption & emission spectroscopies. This work will provide essential structural information in support of the measurements of single molecule optoelectronic device function.

References:
Ye, S., Discher, B.M., Strzalka, J.W., Xu, T., Wu, S.P., Noy, D., Kuzmenko, I., Gog, T., Therien, M.J., Dutton, P.L. and Blasie, J.K. (2005) Amphiphilic 4-Helix Bundles Designed for Light-Induced Electron Transfer Across Soft Interfaces. Nano Lett. 5(9):1658-1667.