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4700094 
Book/Book Chapter 
Non-equilibrium structures of a-helix rod type hydrophobic polypeptide molecules on mica surfaces 
Yonezawa, T; Miyata, A; Tanaka, M; Kinoshita, T 
2005 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY OF JAPAN 
30 
4 
1259-1261 
WOS:000240547000082 
A hydrophobic polypeptide, poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG), has a solid and rod-like a-helix structure. According to this rigid molecular conformation, this type of peptide molecules forms good Langmuir-Brodgett (LB) thin films. In this study, non-equilibrium self-assembled structures, called dissipated structures, of PBLG were observed by putting and drying a 1,2-dichloroethane drop of PBLG on a hydrophilic mica surface. AFM images of the dried sample on mica clearly show the multi-layered structure of PBLG molecules with honeycomb structures under high humidity conditions. On the contrary, under low humidity conditions, densely packed cholesteric liquid crystal-like structures were observed without holes. 
polypeptide; polymer rod; hydrophobic; Marangoni effect; hierarchical