The hexapeptide hIAPP 22-27 (NFGAIL) is known as a crucial amyloid core sequence of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) whose aggregates can be used to better understand the wild-type hIAPP's toxicity to β-cell death. In amyloid research, the role of hydrophobic and aromatic-aromatic interactions as potential driving forces during the aggregation process is controversially discussed not only in case of NFGAIL, but also for amyloidogenic peptides in general. We have used halogenation of the aromatic residue as a strategy to modulate hydrophobic and aromatic-aromatic interactions and prepared a library of NFGAIL variants containing fluorinated and iodinated phenylalanine analogues. We used thioflavin T staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and smallangle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to study the impact of side-chain halogenation on NFGAIL amyloid formation kinetics. Our data revealed a synergy between aggregation behavior and hydrophobicity of the phenylalanine residue. This study introduces systematic fluorination as a toolbox to further investigate the nature of the amyloid self-assembly process.

Advanced peptide-based nanomaterials composed of self-assembling peptides (SAPs) are of emerging interest in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The introduction of fluorine into peptides, in fact, offers unique opportunities to tune...

Fluorinated amino acids play an important role in the field of peptide and protein engineering. Although numerous syntheses have been published in recent decades, strategies that allow routine access to fluorinated amino acids on a gram-scale have been poorly described. Furthermore, the described pathways that gain fluorinated amino acids are based on different synthetic strategies, making a uniform approach that uses similar starting materials highly beneficial. Chiral Ni­(II) complexes were introduced as powerful tools in the synthesis of noncanonical amino acids. In this work, we present a strategy for the synthesis of a diverse range of fluorinated amino acids based on the corresponding Ni­(II) complex from which the products can be obtained in enantiopure form (99% ee) on a gram-scale. In addition, we describe an optimized procedure for the synthesis of alkyl iodide building blocks that are required for the alkylation reactions with the corresponding Ni­(II) complex. Finally, we characterized the synthesized fluorinated amino acids with regard to their hydrophobicity and α-helix propensity.

Fluorinated amino acids play an important role in the field of peptide and protein engineering. Although several different syntheses have been published in recent decades, obtaining fluorinated amino acids on a gram-scale still poses a challenge. Furthermore, the described pathways to obtain fluorinated amino acids are based on different synthetic strategies, making a uniform approach from similar starting materials highly interesting. Chiral Ni(II) complexes were introduced as powerful tools in the synthesis of non-canonical amino acids. In this work, we present a strategy for the synthesis of a diverse range of fluorinated amino acids from the corresponding Ni(II) complex on a gram-scale from which the products can be obtained in enantiopure form (>94%ee). In addition, we describe syntheses for alkyl iodide building blocks which are required for the alkylation reactions with the corresponding Ni(II) complex. Finally, we characterized the synthesized fluorinated amino acids with regard to their hydrophobicity and α-helix propensity.

Synthetic multichromophore systems are of great importance in artificial light harvesting devices, organic optoelectronics, tumor imaging and therapy. Here, we introduce a promising strategy for the construction of selfassembled peptide templated dye stacks based on coupling of a de novo designed pH sensitive peptide with a cyanine dye Cy5 at its N-terminus. Microscopic techniques, in particular cryogenic TEM (cryo-TEM) and cryo-electron tomography technique (cryo-ET), reveal two types of highly ordered three-dimensional assembly structures on the micrometer scale. Unbranched compact layered rods are observed at pH 7.4 and two-dimensional membrane-like assemblies at pH 3.4, both species displaying spectral features of H-aggregates. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the coupling of Cy5 moieties promotes the formation of both ultrastructures, whereas the protonation states of acidic and basic amino acid side chains dictates their ultimate three-dimensional organization.

A de novo designed class of peptide-based fluoropolymers composed of fluorinated aliphatic amino acids as main components is reported. Structural characterization provided insights into fluorine-induced alterations on βstrand to α-helix transition upon an increase in SDS content and revealed the unique formation of PPII structures for trifluorinated fluoropeptides. A combination of circular dichroism, fluorescence-based leaking assays and surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy served to examine the insertion and folding processes into unilamellar vesicles. While partitioning into lipid bilayers, the degree of fluorination conducts a decrease in α-helical content. Furthermore, this study comprises a report on the proteolytic stability of peptides exclusively built up by fluorinated amino acids and proved all sequences to be enzymatically degradable despite the degree of fluorination. Herein presented fluoropeptides as well as the distinctive properties of these artificial and polyfluorinated foldamers with enzyme-degradable features will play a crucial role in the future development of fluorinated peptide-based biomaterials.

Advanced peptide-based nanomaterials composed of self-assembling peptides (SAPs) gain an emerging interest in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The introduction of fluorine into peptides, in fact, offers unique opportunities to tune their biophysical properties and intermolecular interactions. In particular, the degree of fluorination plays a crucial role in peptide engineering as it can be used to control the intensity of fluorine-specific interactions. Here, we designed and explored a series of amphipathic self-assembling peptides by incorporating the fluorinated amino acids (2S)-4-monofluoroethylglycine (MfeGly), (2S)-4,4-difluoroethylglycine (DfeGly) and (2S)-4,4,4-trifluoroethylglycine (TfeGly) as main components. This approach enabled studying the impact of fluorination on secondary structure formation and peptide self-assembly on a structural basis. We show that the interplay between polarity and hydrophobicity, both induced by varying degrees of side chain fluorination, affects peptide folding and leads to the generation of peptide hydrogels composed of fluorinated aliphatic amino acids. Molecular simulations revealed the formation of electrostatically driven intra-chain and inter-chain contact pairs caused by side chain fluorination. Our study provides a systematic report about the distinct features of fluorinated oligomeric peptides with potential applications as peptide-based biomaterials.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) possess bactericidal activity against a variety of pathogens depending on an overall balance of positively charged and hydrophobic residues. Selective fluorination of peptides serves to fine‐tune the intrinsic hydrophobicity and that could improve AMP bioactivity without affecting the sequence length. Only a few studies have focused on the impact of this unique element on antimicrobial potency and came to somewhat contractionary results. Moreover, the influence of fluorinated amino acids on peptide proteolysis is yet not fully understood. In this work, we tackle the link between side chain fluorination and both antimicrobial activity and proteolytic stability for two series of amphiphilic β‐hairpin peptides. In particular, a synergy between antimicrobial activity and peptide hydrophobicity was determined. All peptides were found to be barely hemolytic and non‐toxic. Most surprisingly, the fluorinated peptides were susceptible to enzymatic degradation. Hence, the distinctive properties of these polyfluorinated AMPs will serve for the future design of peptide‐based drugs.