QTAIM Study of an α-Helix Hydrogen Bond Network

The structures of 19 alpha-helical alanine-based peptides, 13 amino acids in length, have been fully optimized Using density functional theory and analyzed by means of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. Two types of N-H center dot center dot center dot O bonds and one type of C-H center dot center dot center dot O bond have been identified. The value of the electron density at hydrogen bond critical points corresponding to N-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions is higher than that of C-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions. The effect of amino acid substitution at the central position of the peptide oil the hydrogen bond network of the alpha-helix has been assessed. The strength of the hydrogen bond network, measured as the Summation of the electron density over the hydrogen bond critical points, may be used to explain experimental relative helix propensities of amino acids in cases where solvation and entropic effects cannot.