Stereoselection in designed three-helix bundle metalloproteins.

The stereochemical consequences of the metal-ion assisted self-assembly of parallel three-helix peptide bundles are investigated. Chiral induction in the self-assembly of systems containing extensive protein secondary structure is compared with the racemic synthesis of short metallopeptides. Isolation and characterization of the individual stereoisomers of an exchange-inert metalloprotein provide structural insights into analogous exchange-labile systems.