Modern peptide synthesis is a controlled, stepwise chemical process that builds a sequence one residue at a time. Most custom peptides today are produced using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), which supports efficient washing between steps and practical scale-up for research supply.
At a glance
- SPPS is the common standard: the growing peptide is attached to a solid resin.
- Protection chemistry is essential to avoid unwanted side reactions.
- Purification + analytics turn crude synthesis into research-ready material.
What “peptide synthesis” means
Peptide synthesis connects amino acids through repeated peptide-bond formation. Each cycle adds one residue, then prepares the chain for the next addition. The sequence is built in a defined order, and side chains are protected until the end of the process.
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) in simple steps
- Anchor: attach the first residue to a resin.
- Deprotect: remove a temporary protecting group to expose the reactive amine.
- Couple: add the next protected amino acid under coupling conditions.
- Wash: remove excess reagents and byproducts.
- Repeat: cycle until the full sequence is assembled.
- Cleavage & global deprotection: release the peptide and remove side-chain protecting groups.
Protecting groups (why they matter)
During synthesis, reactive groups must be controlled to prevent branching or undesired reactions:
- N-terminal protection: temporary groups are removed each cycle.
- Side-chain protection: stable groups remain until final cleavage.
Why purification is still needed
As sequences get longer, the number of synthesis steps grows—and small inefficiencies can produce detectable byproducts (like deletion sequences). Purification methods (often chromatographic) and analytical confirmation (commonly HPLC and MS) help ensure the final material matches research expectations.
What buyers should specify when ordering
- Exact sequence and any modifications.
- Terminal chemistry (e.g., free acid vs amidated C-terminus).
- Target purity level and desired documentation.
- Requested form (lyophilized vs solution) and packaging preferences (e.g., aliquots).
