Peptide glossary · Structure and synthesis
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)
The standard method for making synthetic peptides. The chain grows one amino acid at a time on a resin. At the end the peptide is cleaved off, purified and lyophilised. Incomplete couplings create deletion sequences.
In the lab
The quality of synthesis shows in the chromatogram: few, small side peaks point to clean synthesis and good purification.
More terms: Structure and synthesis
- AcetylationAdding an acetyl group, usually at the N-terminus.
- Aib (aminoisobutyric acid)A non-proteinogenic amino acid with two methyl groups on the alpha carbon.
- AmidationReplacing the C-terminal carboxyl group with an amide.
- AnalogueA molecule that resembles a natural model but is changed on purpose, for example by swapping amino acids or adding a side chain.
- C-terminusThe end of a peptide with the free carboxyl group, on the right of the sequence.
- D-amino acidThe mirror image of the natural L-amino acid.
For laboratory research use only. Not for use in humans or animals.