Molecular Conformation-Dependent Complexation between Acidic- and Basic-Polypeptides via Hydrogen Bonding in Solution

Interpolymer complex formation between basic polypeptide poly(L-proline) Form Ⅱ (PLP(Ⅱ)) and acidic polypeptides poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLGA) and poly(L-aspartic acid)(PLAA) has been studied in water-methanol (1:2 v/v) mixed-solvent by viscometry, potentiometry, light scattering and circular dichroism (CD) measurements. It has been found that polymer complexes between PLP(Ⅱ) and PLGA (or PLAA) are formed via hydrogen bonding with a stoichiometric ratio of PLP(Ⅱ)/PLGA (or PLAA)=1:2 (in unit mole ratio) and that PLP(Ⅱ) forms polymer complex more favorably with PLGA than with PLAA. In addition, the minimum (for pH 5.0) and the maximum (for pH 3.2) in reduced viscosity of dilute PLP(Ⅱ)-PLGA mixed solutions are observed at 0.67 unit mole fraction of PLGA (i.e., [PLP(Ⅱ)]/[PLGA]=1/2). These findings could be explained in terms of molecular structure (or conformation) of the complementary polymers associated with the complex formation.