Nucleation of β–sheets

Peter Hendrickson

Dr. Curran

Beta sheets are an important secondary structure in proteins where two peptides are held together by hydrogen bonds between the two strands. Previous research has shown that a tungsten-alkyne complex can be utilized to connect one end of the two peptide chains. This project involves synthesizing an alkynyl tripeptide, coupling it to a tungsten complex, adding a second alkyne to the other end, and coupling the free ends to another tungsten complex. This will result in two tripeptide chains coupled at each end to a tungsten complex. Currently, a method for the addition of the second alkyne is being investigated.