Both the shift in minima to higher wavelength (from ~ 200 nm to ~ 205 nm) and the increase in positive signal at 193 nm are indicative of increased α-helix propensity (% helicity= 21 ± 1; Table ). However, the emergence of a negative MRE band at 230 nm was unexpected, as it has been proposed to be more characteristic of "turn" like structures (although a positive signal at ~ 215 nm, also characteristic of turn structures is absent). The signal at 230 nm may arise as a consequence of exciton coupling between the mal group and peptide backbone. Overall, the data indicates that the conformational ensemble has reduced random coil character.