Poly-L-alanylglycyl-L-alanylglycyl-L-serylglycine: A synthetic model of Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin

Abstract

The sequential polypeptide [Ala-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ser-Gly]_n has been prepared by polymerization of a hexapeptide p-nitrophenyl ester. This polymer contains the repeating sequence of amino acid residues present in the crystalline regions of Bombyx mori silk fibroin. The o-nitrophenylsulphenyl amino-protecting group was used extensively in the synthesis of the hexapeptide active monomer from which the polypeptide was obtained.