INFLUENCE OF ADDED SACCHARIDES ON THE CONFORMATION OF BORONIC-ACID-APPENDED POLY(L-LYSINE) - ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL A HELIX-COIL TRANSITION BY SUGARS

Poly(L- and D-lysine)s (L- and D-1, respectively) were modified with a phenylboronic acid derivative which acts as a sugar-binding site. When monosaccharides were added to the L-1 solution, the helix content was increased and the pH which gives the maximum helix content shifted to lower pH region. The pH dependence in the presence of D-fructose was different, although slightly, between L- and D-1. This is a novel attempt toward the control of a polypeptide conformation by sugars.