[Spatial structure of gramicidin A in organic solvents. 1H-NMR analysis of conformation heterogeneity in ethanol].

Structural features of double helices formed by polypeptides with alternating L- and D-amino acid residues were analysed. It was found that the map of short distances (less than 4 A) between protons of the two backbones is unique for each double helix type and even its fragment implies unambiguously parameters of the helix (i.e. parallel or antiparallel, handedness, pitch of helix, relative shift of polypeptide chains). By analysis of two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectra (COSY, RELSY, HOHAHA, NOESY), proton resonances of [Val1]gramicidin A (GA) in the ethanol solution were assigned. The results obtained show that the solution contains five stable conformations of GA in comparable concentrations. Monomer of GA is in a random coil conformation. Specific maps of short interproton distances for the other four species (1-4) were obtained by means of two dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy. The maps as well as spin-spin couplings of the H-NC alpha-H protons and solvent accessibilities of the individual amide groups correspond to four types of double helices pi pi LD 5,6 with 5.6 residues per turn. The double helices are related to the Veatch species 1-4 of GA. Species 1 and 2 are left-handed parallel double helices increase increase pi pi LD 5,6 with different relative shift of polypeptide chains. Species 3 is a left-handed antiparallel double helix increase decrease pi pi LD 5,6 and species 4 is a right-handed parallel double helix increase increase LD 5,6. In the dimers helices are fixed by the maximum number (28) of interbackbone hydrogen bonds NH...O = C possible for these structures. Species 1, 3 and 4 have C2 symmetry axes. Relationship between gramicidin A spatial structures induced by various media is discussed.