Structure of single-wall peptide nanotubes: in situflow aligning X-ray diffractionElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: SAXS data, cryo-TEM images, X-ray diffraction patterns, Molecular dynamics computer simulations. See DOI: 10.1039/c0cc00212g

The structure of single wall peptide nanotubes is presented for the model surfactant-like peptide A6K. Capillary flow alignment of a sample in the nematic phase at high concentration in water leads to oriented X-ray diffraction patterns. Analysis of these, accompanied by molecular dynamics simulations, suggests the favourable self-assembly of antiparallel peptide dimers into β-sheet ribbons that wrap helically to form the nanotube wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]