Electrostatic interactions of charged groups in an aqueous medium and their effect on the formation of the secondary structures of polypeptide chains
Finkel'shteĭn, A.V.
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia 11(4): 811-819
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-8984 PMID: 618325 Document Number: 111099
Analysis of experimental data shows that interaction of charges in an aqueous medium is satisfactorily evaluated by macroscopic dielectric water permeability even at small (approximately 3--4 A) distances. It has been shown that a non-polar molecule located between the charges weakens their interaction. At the same time interaction between charges situated on the non-polar molecules somewhat increases. An estimate is made of the free energy loss of alpha- and beta-structures of polypeptides, resulting from the insertion of charged groups as well as of the free energy of interactions involving charged groups in different secondary structures.