Pseudocyclic conformation

Detailed NMR conformational analysis of y -peptides 139-141 (Fig. 2.35) in pyri-dine-d5 revealed that y-peptides as short as four residues adopt a 2.6-hehcal fold stabilized by H-bonds between C=0 and NH +3 which close 14-membered pseudocycles [200, 201]. The 2.614-helical structure of a low energy conformer of y-hex-apeptide 141 as determined from NMR measurements in pyridine-d5 [200], is shown in Fig. 2.36A and B). Determination of the structure of y" -peptides in CD3OH was hampered by the much lower dispersion of the diasterotopic H-C(a) protons compared to their dispersion in pyridine-d5. However, the characteristic and properly resolved i/ir-2 NOE crosspeacks between H-C(y) and NH +2 in the NH/H-C(y) region of the ROESY spectrum were an indication that the 2.6-helical structure is at least partially populated in CD3OH. 

Optimal pre-organization of the y-peptide backbone towards the formation of open-chain turn-like motifs is promoted by unlike-y " -amino acid residues. This design principle can be rationalized by examination of the two conformers free of syn-pentane interaction (f and II", Fig. 2.34). Tetrapeptide 150 built from homo-chiral unlike-y -amino acid building blocks 128e has been shown by NMR experiments in pyridine to adopt a reverse turn-like structure stabilized by a 14-mem-bered H-bond pseudocycle [202] (Fig. 2.37 A). 

The open analog does not cyclize in vivo but can present some conformational analogy with the ring-containing active principle. These kinds of analogs are known as pseudocycles. 

The open analogue is assumed to present a similar conformation to that of the cyclic one. Before adopting the term pseudocycles it must be ascertained by NMR or X-ray crystallography that they really mimic the ring-closed analogue. 

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