Polypeptide compounds that form beta sheets

摘要

The present invention is directed to a polypeptide compound having the following formula: JnAm1XuAm2Jn, where A is either a D- or L-alanine amino acid and m1 or m2 are 0 to about 40 with the proviso that m1 + m2 is 10 to about 40. J is a charged amino acid and n is 1 or 2. X is any amino acid except proline and u is 0 or 1. Such polypeptides form beta sheets in an aqueous environment and can be used to hydrolyze compounds.