Structures of peptide aggregates investigated with the new Fritz Haber Institute free electron laser

The combination of several separation methods with the Fritz Haber Institute free electron laser has allowed to measure infrared spectra of size selected peptide-ion aggregates in the gas phase. The spectra reveal information on the peptides’ folding states, varying between helical and β-sheet. In the future, this approach of determining folding in peptide and protein aggregates can, potentially, contribute to the better understanding of protein misfolding, aggregation and the hereby caused diseases.