Supramolecular parallel β-sheet and amyloid-like fibril forming peptides using δ-aminovaleric acid residue

Four terminally blocked tripeptides containing δ-aminovaleric acid residue self-assemble to form supramolecular β-sheet structures as are revealed from their FT-IR data. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of two representative peptides also show that they form parallel β-sheet structures. Self-aggregation of these β-sheet forming peptides leads to the formation of fibrillar structures, as is evident from scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images. These peptide fibrils bind to a physiological dye, Congo red and exhibit a typical green-gold birefringence under polarized light, showing close resemblance to neurodegenerative disease causing amyloid fibrils.