β‐Turn preference of tetrapeptide sequences as analyzed by CD spectra of their Dnp‐pNA derivatives

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Abstract
The Dnp‐pNA derivatives of more than 30 tetrapeptides were synthesized and subjected to CD measurements in MeOH. The CD spectra were analyzed on the basis of exciton chirality theory and were found to be useful for estimating β‐turn preference of the parent tetrapeptides based on the following facts: (1) when a compound of the series takes the βturn conformation, a pair of strong CD bands with opposite sign are observed at 305 and 350 nm, and (2) when it is in a random or nonfolded conformation, no significant bands are observed at the wavelengths. The intensity of the 350‐nm band reflects especially well the βturn preference. The CD spectra can be classified into two groups according to the sign of the band at 350 nm, and the groups seem to correspond to the type of βturn. By summarizing the results obtained, some generalizations concerning the sequence–conformation relationship are proposed.