Fluorescence Visualization of Helix Inversion in Biomimic Polymeric Foldamer
Abstract
Abstract Biomacromolecules such as DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides possess unique helical structures that are closely related to their biological functions involving recognition, catalysis, replication, and genetic information storage. From a biomimetic perspective, artificial foldamers are the ideal systems to model and study the structure–property relationship of biomacromolecules. Herein, we report a facile, rapid, and cost‐effective method to directly visualize and monitor the solvent‐driven helix inversion in a water‐soluble poly( m ‐phenylene ethynylene)‐based foldamer with the aid of a tetraphenylethene‐functionalized hemicyanine dye. By adjusting the solvent environment, the foldamer transitions from an M ‐helix to a P ‐helix, accompanied by a change in the dye's binding mode from groove to surface. This transition alters the degree of restriction and microenvironment polarity, resulting in a visible emission color change from yellow to red, signaling the helix inversion. The present investigation offers a powerful tool for understanding conformational transitions in biomacromolecules and offers insights into the dynamic behavior of helical structures.
Article Details
Authors (11)
Yuan Qiu
Zonghang Liu
Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Aggregate Science, School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
Chenchen Sun
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430074 P.R. China
Xilong Wei
Ryan T. K. Kwok
Department of Chemistry, the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Yonggui Liao
State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and Key Lab of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Jianwei Sun
Jacky W. Y. Lam
Department of Chemistry, the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Zijie Qiu
School of Science and Engineering, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Aggregate Science, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology
Xiaolin Xie
State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and Key Lab of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Ben Zhong Tang
School of Science and Engineering, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Aggregate Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Longgang, Shenzhen 518172, Guangdong, P. R. China