Synthesis of polymeric models of elastin: Polyhexapeptides and an insoluble, hybrid cross‐linked polypeptide

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Abstract
The polymer of the hexapeptide sequence, Val‐Ala‐Pro‐Gly‐Glu‐Gly, was synthesized and demostrated of exhibit a reversible, pH‐dependent coacervation in low‐pH aqueous solution. In addition, the synthesis of an insoluble, hybrid, cross‐linked polypeptide matrix is described. The cross‐linking was achieved in the coacervate state during flow orientation of the polymers. The chemical means of covalent cross‐linking was intermolecular primary amide bond formation between the lysyl side chains in one polypentapeptide unit and the glutamyl side chains in another polyhexapeptide unit. The carboxyl activating reagent was a water‐soluble carbodiimide. The key intermediates in the syntheses, the hexamers and their high polymers, were analyzed by carbon‐13 magnetic resonance to verify the correctness of synthesis and to obtain information on conformation.