Cell membrane has membrane domain called �lipid rafts� which provide environment for membrane proteins. Thus, lipid rafts is closely related with important cell functions. Amphiphilic peptides having hydrophobic helices herein also induce phase separation in peptide membranes, �peptide rafts�, which are used here for self-assemblies of conjugate morphologies composed of vesicles and nanotubes. Amphiphilic helical peptides, (Sar)25-b-(L-Leu-Aib)6 and (Sar)25-b-(D-Leu-Aib)6, self-assembled into nanotubes by themselves, but into vesicles with 1:1 mixture. Their mixtures at ratios of 8:2 and 2:8 yielded molecular assemblies of a round-bottom flask morphology, an AB-type conjugate morphology of a nanotube and a vesicle, due to phase separation in peptide membrane triggered by stereocomplex formation of right-handed and left-handed helices. The open mouth of the round-bottom flask was further combined with other peptide vesicles to generate asymmetric dumbbell morphology, ABC-type conjugate morphology of a nanotube and two vesicles.

Conjugate morphologies of nanotubes with vesicles generated by phase-separation of helical peptides in molecular assemblies

244th National Meeting (2012)

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