The critical role of peptide chemistry in the life sciences

Abstract

Peptide chemistry plays a key role in the synthesis and study of protein molecules and their functions. Modern ligation methods enable the total synthesis of enzymes and the systematic dissection of the chemical basis of enzyme catalysis. Predicted developments in peptide science are described.

Keywords: Analytical characterization of synthetic peptides; Chemical protein synthesis; Enzymes; Novel protein covalent topologies; Post-translational modifications; Synthetic peptide vaccines.