Methyl-blocked dimeric α,γ-peptide nanotube segments:: Formation of a peptide heterodimer through backbone-backbone interactions

Cyclic peptides can dimerize through β-sheet-like hydrogen bonding. Heterodimerization is favored over homodimerization, which creates interesting combinatorial possibilities without detriment to the functionalization of amino acid side chains. These dimers represent a new class of self-assembling peptide nanotubes in which the hydrophobicity of the internal cavity (see picture) can be controlled. (Graph Presented). © 2005 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.