Proton transfer and polarizability of hydrogen bonds in proteins coupled with conformational changes. I. Infrared investigation of poly(glutamic acid) with various N Bases

The nature of hydrogen bonds formed between carboxylic acid residues and histidine residues in proteins is studied by ir spectroscopy. Poly(glutamic acid) [(Glu) n ] is investigated with various monomer N bases. The position of the proton transfer equilibrium OH…N ⇌ O − …H + N is determined considering the bands of the carboxylic group. It is shown that largely symmetrical double minimum energy surfaces are present in the OH…N ⇌ O − …H + N bonds when the p K a of the protonated N base is two values larger than that of the carboxylic groups of (Glu) n . Hence OH…N ⇌ O − …H + N bonds between glutamic and aspartic acid residues and histidine residues in proteins may be easily polarizable proton transfer hydrogen bonds. The polarizability of these bonds is one to two orders of magnitude larger than usual electron polarizabilities; therefore, these bonds strongly interact with their environment. It is demonstrated that water molecules shift these proton transfer equilibria in favor of the polar proton boundary structure. The access of water molecules to such bonds in proteins and therefore the position of this proton transfer equilibrium is dependent on conformation. The amide bands show that (Glu) n is α‐helical with all systems. The only exception is the (Glu) n ‐ n ‐propylamine system. When this system is hydrated (Glu) n is α‐helical, too. When it is dried, however, (Glu) n forms antiparallel β‐structure. This conformational transition, dependent on degree of hydration, is reversible. An excess of n ‐propylamine has the same effect on conformation as hydration.