PE Biosystems Pioneer peptide synthesis system

The solid support is placed in glass reaction columns that have filters at the lop and bottom. Adjustable end pieces allow for different scales of synthesis to he performed within the same reaction column. The standard column size is 15 X 100 mm, capable of containing up to 2.5 g of PEG-PS resin. A large-scale column (25 x 150 mm) is also provided to enable synthesis scales of up to 2.0 mmol. 

The system can be operated from stand-alone control via an LCD and a membrane keypad screen on the instrument. Seven pre-programmed protocols are provided and a maximum of 36 sequences containing 101 amino acids in length in each of the eight user profiles is allowed. Alternatively, for more flexibility, full protocol editing, chemical editing, and database capability, the system can be controlled from a computer workstation with icon-driven easy-to-use Windows 95-based software. 

Real-time on-line UV monitoring is provided for both columns with software enabling full feedback control. If the UV data determine a difficult deprotection, the system can automatically extend the deprotection and the subsequent coupling of the next incoming amino acid (44). 

A unique characteristic of the Pioneer peptide synthesis system is the option of a multiple peptide synthesis (MPS) accessory with 16-column capacity. A maximum of two MPS units can be added to each Pioneer, extending the capability for simultaneous synthesis from 2 to 32 different peptides. The novel design allows independent operation of both columns, MPS accessories, or a combination of the two. The MPS unit possesses scales at 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mmol. Twenty-four different predissolved amino acid derivatives can be incorporated to elongate a sequence. The appropriate amino acid solution is delivered in eightfold excess to the columns, together with the activator solutions. 

A range of MPS systems is available commercially which generally synthesize at lower scales and with limited flexibility in terms of protocol and chemical editing capability (45-48). 

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The Pioneer MPS option, described in Section 3.1, is a 16-column accessory that can be added to the PE Biosystems Pioneer peptide synthesis system. A... 

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