Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Evidence for the Pauling–Corey α-Helix in Synthetic Polypeptides

Abstract

WE have calculated, in collaboration with Dr. V. Vand1, the Fourier transform (or continuous structure factor) of an atom repeated at regular intervals on an infinite helix. The properties of the transform are such that it will usually be possible to predict the general character of X-ray scattering by any structure based on a regular succession of similar groups of atoms arranged in a helical manner. In particular, the type of X-ray diffraction picture given by the synthetic polypeptide poly-γ-methyl-L-glutamate, which has been prepared in a highly crystalline form by Dr. C. H. Bamford and his colleagues in the Research Laboratories, Courtaulds, Ltd., Maidenhead, is so readily explained on this basis as to leave little doubt that the Pauling–Corey α-helix2, or some close approximation to it, exists in this polypeptide. Pauling and Corey2 have already shown this correspondence in the equatorial plane; it is shown here that the correspondence extends over the whole of the diffraction pattern.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Purchase on Springer Link

Instant access to full article PDF

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cochran, W., Crick, F. H. C., and Vand, V. (to be published).

  2. Pauling, L., and Corey, R. B., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 37, 241 (1951).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Perutz, M. F., Nature, 167, 1053 (1951).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bamford, C. H., Brown, L., Elliott, A., Hanby, W. E., and Trotter, I. F. (to be published).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

COCHRAN, W., CRICK, F. Evidence for the Pauling–Corey α-Helix in Synthetic Polypeptides. Nature 169, 234–235 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169234a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/169234a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing