Several analogs of an alanine-rich alpha-helical antifreeze polypeptide were synthesized
and studied to evaluate the role of charged amino acids on structure and activity. alpha-
Helix content and thermal stability were assessed by circular dichroism spectrometry and
antifreeze activity by freezing point depression (thermal hysteresis) and ice crystal growth
rate measurements. Rearrangement, deletion and replacement of charged amino acids
resulted in reduced helicity and antifreeze activity in some cases, but the effects were not …