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Coil-helix transition in poly(L-glutamic acid): Evidence for a 3-state non-cooperative process

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Abstract

A careful analysis of measurements of circular dichroism of poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA) shows that the data can be very accurately described by introducing a third state for the PGA configuration, in addition to the helix and coil ones, and considering a simple equilibrium between these three states, without cooperativity. The third state is more conspicuous when high molecular weight polyethyleneglycol (PEG) is added. Excluded-volume effects shown by differences in the presence of short and long PEG chains suggest a direct interaction of PEG and PGA rather than an osmotic effect.

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  1. Service de Physique de l’Etat Condensé, CEA Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France

    G. Zalczer

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  1. G. Zalczer
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Correspondence to G. Zalczer.

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Zalczer, G. Coil-helix transition in poly(L-glutamic acid): Evidence for a 3-state non-cooperative process. Eur. Phys. J. E 35, 100 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2012-12100-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2012-12100-4

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