Ultraviolet Absorption Spectroscopy of Peptides

Abstract

UV absorption spectroscopy is commonly used with peptides for determining concentration and enzyme activity, but high-resolution UV spectra can also provide information on peptide secondary and tertiary structure and association behavior. New developments using temperature- and cation-dependent high-resolution second derivative absorption methods can also provide information concerning peptide dynamics. Data from several low-resolution spectroscopic techniques, including UV absorption, can be combined to generate an overall picture of peptide structure as a function of environmental conditions.