Peptides and Proteins—Introduction

Fuji, N., Akaji, K., Hayashi, Y., and Yajima, H. (1985) Studies on peptides. CXXV. 3-(3-p-methoxyben-zylthiopropionyl)-thiazolidine-2-thione and its analogs as reagents for the introduction of the mer-capto group into peptides and proteins. Chem. Bharm. Bull. 33, 362-367. 

The development of chiral separation methods for dipeptides is of relevance for purity controls, for checking racemization processes in peptide syntheses, and for the investigation of peptide and protein hydrolysates. Since their introduction as chiral... 

First the general structure and chemistry of the amino acids is presented. Then several methods that can be used to prepare them in the laboratory are discussed. After an introduction to the structure of peptides and proteins, chemical methods that can be used to determine the amino acid sequence in proteins are presented. Next, the synthesis of peptides in the laboratory is introduced. Finally, the three-dimensional structure of proteins and the mechanism of action of enzymes are briefly addressed. 

Peptides and proteins are not strictly new therapeutic agents, indeed hormones, serum proteins and enzymes have been used as drags ever since the commercial introduction of insulin in 1923. However, significant... 

The physicochemical incompatibility of the polystyrene supports with the peptides has been observed to be one of the problems associated with the original Merrifield method. This has been approached successfully by Sheppard and coworkers by the introduction of the polar polyacrylamide supports. Poly(JV-acrylylpyrrolidine) resin is another polar polymeric support developed on similar grounds. The use of these polar resin supports facilitated the solid phase synthesis of a number of peptides and protein sequences in higher yield and purity than with the polystyrene resins. However, the inadequate availability of these polar supports appears to be a limiting factor for a wider utilization at present. 

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