Theory of the Far-Ultraviolet Spectrum of Polypeptides in the β Conformation

Abstract

The electronic excited states in polypeptides of the β conformation corresponding to the lowest energy π—π* transition are derived from molecular-exciton theory. Transition energies are calculated in the monopole—monopole approximation, and the results are compared with polarized film spectra obtained in the present study, as well as with experimental data of other investigators. It appears that either parallel sheets or mixtures of parallel and antiparallel sheets are present in poly-L-lysine solutions and films.