automated peptide synthesizer

• Subject Area: Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 423873078

The automated solid phase peptide synthesis is an essential part of experimentally working peptide researcher groups. During the peptide synthesis various peptide chains of different sequence, consisting of amino acids as building blocks are synthetically assembled. The disadvantage of a manual synthesis of peptides are possible errors in the assembly of the sequence, and the restriction of working hours to a normal working day. In constrast, the automated peptide synthesizer does work continously and according to the program without mistakes. Furthermore, though the parallelization of the machine, higher numbers of peptides can be synthesized, as compared to the manual synthesis.The structures of the peptides assembled by an automated peptide synthesized are not only restricted to the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, but also other building blocks can be used for synthesis. In the area of modern peptide research, where higher numbers and amounts of peptides are required, an automated peptide synthesizer is of highest importance in the laboratory.The required machine with the indicated functions is an important complement for research and supports the education and training of doctoral students in a planned research training group (Bioactive Peptides - Innovative Aspects of Synthesis and Biosynthesis). The machine and the established technology will be made accessible to all members of the RTG. Background of this application is a high demand of synthetic peptides serving as peptide substrates on biochemical reactions, of for structural biology investigations, biophysical characterizations and as a starting material for an extended chemical synthesis.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Automatisierter Peptidsynthesizer
• Instrumentation Group: 1160 Synthese-Apparaturen der Biochemie
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Berlin
• Leader: Professor Dr. Roderich D. Süßmuth