Stoichiometry-controlled secondary structure transition of amyloid-derived supramolecular dipeptide co-assemblies

Conformational transitions of secondary structures are a crucial factor in many protein misfolding diseases. However, the actual transition of folded proteins into β-sheet-rich structures is not fully understood. Inhibition of aggregate formation, mediated by the β-sheet conformation, and control of the secondary structural transition of proteins and peptides could potentially attenuate the development of amyloid-associated diseases. Here we describe a stoichiometry-controlled secondary structure transition of amyloid-derived dipeptide assemblies from a β-sheet to supramolecular helix conformation through co-assembly with a bipyridine derivative. The transition is mainly mediated by the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions between the two components, which induce the altered stacking and conformation of the co-assemblies, as confirmed by experimental results and computational simulations. This work not only exemplifies a feasible strategy to disrupt the β-sheet conformation, underlying amyloid-like fibril formation, but also provides a conceptual basis for the future utilization of the helical nanostructures in various biological applications.