Monolayers of Synthetic Protein Analogues

Abstract

SINCE the natural proteins consist of various amino-acids and their structures are very complex, it is desirable, in order to elucidate their structures and their physical and chemical behaviours, to synthesize simple protein analogues having any particular characteristics of protein molecules¹. As part of this object, we have synthesized several polypeptides having normal aliphatic side-chains with various numbers of carbon atoms and studied the surface films of these polypeptides spread on water. These polypeptides were easily synthesized from the corresponding normal fatty acids by the N-carboxy-amino-acid anhydride method, and have molecular weights of about two hundred thousand. The effects of various solvents and catalysts on the course of the polymerization of N-carboxyamino-acid anhydrides have already been reported elsewhere². The surface film of poly-γ-methyl L-glutamate spread on water was also studied. The results obtained with surface films spread on water will be briefly described.