ABSTRACT:Theoretical conformational analysis was carried out on periodic polypeptides containing Z-dehydrophenylalanine (LJzPhe) and Pro residues, poly(X-LJzPhe-Pro) (X=Ala, Leu, Gly, o-Ala, and aminoisobutyric acid (Aib)), using the procedure of conformational energy minimization. The lowest-energy conformations were found to be a right-handed ,B 11 · 9 -helix for X=Ala, and a right-handed /15·'-helix for X=Gly. For X=Leu, D-Ala, and Aib, the lowest-energy conformation was found to be a left-handed ,8 6 1 -6 · 2 -helix: the nearest phenyl-phenyl pairs took a center-to-center distance of 6.6~6.8 A and an edge-to-edge orientation. On the whole, phenyl groups were arranged in C 2 -type symmetry on the helical wheel. Poly(Leu-LJzPhe-Pro) was synthesized by polymerizing the corresponding tripeptide with diphenylphosphoryl azidc. The polypeptide in chloroform and in tetrahydrofuran showed a positive CD signal around 280 nm, which is ascribed to the absorption band of L1 2 Phe residue. This CD pattern means that the screw angle between neighboring ,1 2 Phe transition moments is around 0° or 180°, suggesting the ,8 6 -helical conformation predicted above.KEY WORDS Sequential Polypeptide / Z-Dehydrophenylalanine / Praline / Conformational Energy Calculation / Synthesis / CD Study / ,B-Helix /