UV Raman Examination of α-Helical Peptide Water Hydrogen Bonding

UV resonance Raman spectra (UVRS) of an alpha-helical, 21 residue, mainly Ala peptide (AP) in the dehydrated solid state were compared to those in aqueous solution at different temperatures. The UVRS amide band frequencies of a dehydrated solid alpha-helix peptide show frequency shifts compared to those in aqueous solution due to the loss of amide backbone hydrogen bonding to water; the amide II and amide III bands of the solid alpha-helix downshift, while the amide I band upshifts. The shifts are identical in direction but smaller than those that occur for alpha-helices in aqueous solution as the temperature increases; water hydrogen bonding strengths decrease as the temperature increases. The UV Raman amide band frequency shifts can be used to monitor alpha-helix hydrogen bonding.