Human neuropeptide substance P self-assembles into semi-flexible nanotubes that can be manipulated for nanotechnology.

Substance P neuropeptide is here reported to self-assemble into well-defined semi-flexible nanotubes. Using a blend of synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy and other biophysical techniques, the natural peptide is shown to self-assemble into monodisperse 6 nm wide nanotubes, which can closely associate into nano-arrays with nematic properties. Using simple protocols, the nanotubes could be precipitated or mineralised while conserving their dimensions and core-shell morphology. Our discovery expands the small number of available monodisperse peptide nanotube systems for nanotechnology, beyond direct relevance to biologically functional peptide nanostructures since the substance P nanotubes are fundamentally different from typical amyloid fibrils.