Photoresponsive Polypeptide Membranes

Analogous photoresponsive peptide and polypeptide systems are being developed the photochemical properties of poly[W -p-(phenyl-azo)benzoyl-L-a,/8-diaminopropionic acid] have been examined, and the first example of photoregulation of permeability across a membrane has been achieved by the use of a new polyvinyl/poly-peptide graft copolymer composed of a photoresponsive copolypeptide branch from /3-p-phenylazobenzyl L-asparate and /3-benzyl L-asparate attached to a poly(Bu methacrylate) backbone.Papain activity has similarly been regulated by anchoring a photo-responsive azo group to the enzyme backbone. ... 

Aoyama, M., Watanabe, J., and Inoue, S. (1990a) Photoregulation of permeability across a membrane from a graft copolymer containing a photoresponsive polypeptide branch. Journal of American Chemical Society, 112,5542-5545. 

Aoyama, M., Youda, A., Watanabe, J. et al. (1990b) Synthesis and circular dichroic and photoresponsive properties of a graft copolymer containing an azoaromatic polypeptide branch and its membrane. Macromolecules, 23,1458-1463. 

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