Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. They play crucial roles in biological systems, serving as hormones, neurotransmitters, antibiotics, and more.
Peptide synthesis services typically cater to researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and other institutions that require custom peptides for various purposes, such as drug discovery, biochemical research, or diagnostic applications. These services can provide peptides with specific sequences, purities, and modifications tailored to the client’s needs.
Methods for peptide synthesis:
There are two main methods for peptide synthesis: solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS). Solid-phase peptide synthesis is the most common method, offering advantages such as efficiency, scalability, and ease of purification. Liquid-phase peptide synthesis, on the other hand, is less common and typically used for specific applications.
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS):
- SPPS is the most widely used method for peptide synthesis due to its efficiency and versatility.
- In SPPS, the peptide chain is assembled step by step on a solid support, typically a resin bead. The amino acids are added sequentially, starting from the C-terminus to the N-terminus.
- A temporary protecting group protects each amino acid to prevent unwanted side reactions during the coupling process.
- After each coupling step, excess reagents and by-products are washed away, and the next amino acid is added.
- Once the desired peptide sequence is assembled, the peptide is cleaved from the solid support and deprotected to yield the final product.
Liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS):
- LPPS involves the stepwise condensation of protected amino acids in solution.
- Unlike SPPS, which relies on solid supports, LPPS requires more rigorous purification steps to separate the desired peptide from reaction by-products and unreacted reagents.
- LPPS is less commonly used than SPPS and is typically employed for synthesizing larger peptides or peptides with complex structures.
Both SPPS and LPPS require careful selection of amino acid building blocks, coupling reagents, protecting groups, and reaction conditions to ensure efficient peptide synthesis with high purity and yield.
Peptide synthesis can also involve post-synthesis modifications, such as incorporating non-natural amino acids, introducing specific chemical modifications, or conjugating peptides to other molecules (e.g., fluorophores, tags, or drug payloads).
When considering peptide synthesis services, it’s essential to evaluate factors such as the provider’s expertise, reputation, turnaround time, scalability, cost, and quality control measures. Some companies may offer additional services like peptide design, synthesis optimization, analytical testing, and scale-up production.
