The structure of synthetic polypeptides. I. The transform of atoms on a helix

Abstract

The formulae are given for the Fourier transforms of a number of helical structures; namely, a thin helical wire, a set of identical atoms spaced at regular intervals on a helix, and the general case of a group of atoms repeated by the operation of a non-integer screw. General predictions are made concerning the intensities of the X-ray diffraction pattern of the synthetic polypeptide poly-7-methyl-L-glutamate, assuming that its structure is based on the a-helix suggested by Pauling & Corey.