Nature of Molecular Interactions of Peptides with Gold, Palladium, and Pd-Au Bimetal Surfaces in Aqueous Solution
Abstract
We investigated molecular interactions involved in the selective binding of several short peptides derived from phage-display techniques (8-12 amino acids, excluding Cys) to surfaces of Au, Pd, and Pd-Au bimetal. Changes in chain conformation from the solution to the adsorbed state over the course of multiple nanoseconds suggest that the peptides preferably interact with vacant sites of the face-centered cubic lattice above the metal surface. Residues that contribute to binding are in direct contact with the metal surfaces, and less-binding residues are separated from the surface by one or two water layers. The strength of adsorption ranges from 0 to -100 kcal/(mol peptide) and scales with the surface energy of the metal, the affinity of individual residues versus the affinity of water, and conformation aspects, as well as polarization and charge transfer at the metal interface (only qualitatively considered here). A hexagonal spacing of approx. 1.6 angstrom between available lattice sites on the {111} surfaces accounts for the characteristic adsorption of aromatic side groups and various other residues, and a quadratic spacing of approximately 2.8 angstroms between available lattice sites on the {100} surface accounts for a significantly lower affinity to all peptides in favor of mobile water molecules. The combination of these factors suggests a "soft epitaxy" mechanism of binding. On a bimetallic Pd-Au {111} surface, binding patterns are similar, and the polarity of the bimetal junction can modify the binding energy by approximately 10 kcal/mol. The results are semiquantitatively supported by experimental measurements of the affinity of peptides and small molecules to metal surfaces as well as results from quantum-mechanical calculations on small peptide and surface fragments. Interfaces were modeled using the consistent valence force field extended for Lennard-Jones parameters for fcc metals which accurately reproduce surface and interface energies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 24, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA509903
Entities
People
- Barry L. Farmer
- Hendrik Heinz
- Joseph N. Slocik
- Rajesh R Naik
- Ras B. Pandey
- Ruth Pachter
- Soumya S. Patnaik
Organizations
- University of Akron