Magnetization of Chiral Monolayers of Polypeptide: A Possible Source of Magnetism in Some Biological Membranes We are grateful to Prof. M. Fridkin and his group for helping us in the synthesis of the polyalanine. Partial support from the US–Israel Binational Science Foundation is acknowledged.

Abstract

α-Helical l- and D-polyalanines have magnetic properties when self-assembled as monolayers on gold surfaces. The properties depend on the chirality of the molecules and on the direction of their dipole moment relative to the substrate. They were investigated by IR spectroscopy, which determined the orientation of the molecules relative to the surface in the presence of a magnetic field, and by measuring the spin selectivity for electron transmission through the layers.