Modifying Hydroxyapatite Nucleating Peptides to Form Novel Boron Ceramics

Abstract

Reported are efforts to modify the Hydroxyapatite nucleating peptide (HANP) isolated from Corynebacterium matruchotti to nucleate boron as opposed to calcium. The literature reports that boron-binding proteins utilize a His and Ser complex to bind boron in their active sites. Using computer modeling, modifications were designed that changed the active site of HANP to include two His, two Ser or a Ser and a His. Four modified versions were proposed and each version was tested for their energy minimization. The computer models indicate the structures of all 4 were stable. The modified versions were cloned into E. coli and expressed. The expressed peptides were then tested for their ability to nucleate boron ceramics with no success. Two of the modified peptides were synthesized chemically and examined using circular dichromism(CD) and nuclear magnetic reasonance. The results suggest that the a-helical structure of HANP is lost with the modifications. The results from these experiments will be presented in detail and their implications discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA417033

Entities

People

  • Robert E. Stote Ii

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Amino Acids
  • Biochemistry
  • Boric Acids
  • Chemical Compounds
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Composite Materials
  • Computers
  • Department Of Defense
  • Hydrophobic Properties
  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Materials
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
  • Proteins
  • Sodium Compounds
  • Spectra

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science