Peptide Synthesis

Peptides, which are small protein subunits, are the gateway to numerous biological functions. Some peptides act as hormones, others as mediators of inflammation. Others again are antibacterial or antiviral. Together this large group of small proteinlike structures is a promising tool for infection researchers, and the platform Peptide Synthesis generates these molecules by chemical synthesis. Bound to supports our scientists use them in screening assays.

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Our Research

SPOT synthesizer applied by a lab technician.
SPOT-Synthesizer

The scientists of this service unit prepare synthetic peptides in soluble form or they immobilize them as arrays for utilization in many different HZI research projects and for external collaborations.

For the synthesis, characterization and purification of the products our scientists employ special state of the art equipment. They keep the methods of modern peptide synthesis up to date in different research projects and extend the possibilities.

Available in the service unit are:

  • new methods for the generation of peptide arrays (e.g. the SPOT     and the SC2 methods),
  • methods for the generation of phosphorylated peptides,
  • new biocompatible synthesis supports
  • new selectively cleavable peptide linkers
  • methods for the generation of branched peptides
  • methods for the generation of collections of linear and cyclic     peptides (libraries)
  • methods for the utilization of soluble and immobilized peptides in     biological assays
Robotic Liquid Handling System in the laboratory.
Robotic Liquid Handling System

Special attention is given to the so called microarrays. Microarrays are microscope glass slides, on which many different potentially active compounds are fixed in the form of small ‘spots’. Up to 10,000 substances can be placed on such a slide. During the manufacturing of the device the compounds are printed onto the surface. The microarrays are incubated with biological samples, like cell extracts or blood sera. The spots (compounds) which interact with the ingredients of the biological sample can then easily be identified. These methods are intensively developed, tested and optimized in the platform.

Each year approximately 15,000 peptides and peptide mixtures are generated and used in investigations like e.g. the elucidation of protein-protein interactions, the mapping of antibody epitopes and the determination of enzyme-substrate affinities.

A further focus is the synthesis of soluble peptides. So far our scientists have generated over 3,500 soluble peptides with a length between two and over fifty amino acids. Soluble peptides are characterized by HPLC and mass spectrometry – in special cases also by amino acid analysis, protein sequencing and n.m.r. The products are purified by preparative HPLC. For special applications the platform offers peptide modifications like fluorescence labeling, phosphorylation, biotinylation, fatty acid conjugation, PEGylation, branching and cyclization.

Bachelor & Master
Are you interested in a bachelor or master thesis? We are looking forward to your request!

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