Influence of N-methylation on a cation-π interaction produces a remarkably stable β-hairpin peptide

The methylation of lysine in histone tails is a common posttranslational modification that functions in histone-regulated chromatin condensation, with binding of methylated lysine occurring in aromatic pockets on chromodomain proteins. We have synthesized a highly stable 12-residue β-hairpin peptide that exploits the histone-related cation-π interaction between a methylated lysine residue and a tryptophan residue. Thermodynamic analysis reveals significant entropic stabilization of the peptide due to methylation of the lysine residue. Chemical denaturation of the peptide demonstrates two-state behavior. In comparison to other reported, highly stable designed β-hairpins, this peptide is the most thermally stable β-hairpin reported to date. This study provides insight into the role of Lys methylation in histone proteins and more generally in mediating protein-protein interactions. Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society.