Supramolecular structure of polypeptides in concentrated solutions and films. I. Origin of rod-like scattering and effect of form-optical rotation.

Supramolecular structures of poly(γ-benzyl L-gultamate) in concentrated solutions of helicogenic solvents and in solid state were investigated by laser-light scattering technique. The depolarized elastic scattering indicates that there exists two types of rod-like scattering with X-type (having maximum intensity at odd multiples of the azimuthal angle, μ=45°) and +-type (having maximum intensity at multiples of μ=90°) angular distributions. The structural origin of such rod-like scattering and the effect of form-optical rotation on the rod-like scattering are discussed.