Structure and conformation of linear peptides

The tripeptide, glycyl-glycyl-L-isoleucine, crystallizes as a monohydrate in the monoclinic space group P2₁, with a = 12.746(2), b = 6.172(1), c = 8.643(1) Å, β = 99.77(2)°, and Z = 2. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R-value of 0.039 for 917 (I > 1°) reflections. The molecule exists as a zwitterion in the crystal. The peptide units are trans and show significant deviations from planarity. The plane of peptide units and of the carboxyl group are nearly mutually perpendicular to each other. The peptide backbone torsion angles are: ø₁ = - 171.2°, ω₁ = - 176.8°, ø₂ = - 106.1°, ø₂ = - 150.7°, ø₂ = - 172.1°, ø₃ = - 70.9°, ø₃ = 136.5°. For the side-chain of isoleucine, ø₁ = - 58.1°, ø₂ = 169.7° and the system of bonds C′-C^α-C^β-C γ₁^-Cδ is trans zig-zag. The packing arrangement involves spatial segregation of polar and nonpolar moieties.