Sollid Phase Peptide Synthesis

Peptides are the segments of proteins and proteins are the building blocks of life. Peptides carry information to cells and they are major regulators of life. Our group\u27s research focuses on understanding the chemistry of peptides in a solvent free environment called gas-phase. The research requires the synthesis of a library of peptides. The goal of my project is to synthesize a group of peptides including PPD,PPPD , DPPPP, and PPPPD .The peptide synthesized was the PPPD and was analyzed through mass spectrometry. The method used is called Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS). The process includes coupling reactions, deprotection reactions, and washing processes in between. The processes of washing, deprotection, coupling are repeated until the desired peptide is reached. Once the desired peptide sequence has been reached, the peptide is then cleaved off and then purified. Within the purification process, the peptide is dried with nitrogen gas and then is precipitated through the addition of diethyl ether. Subsequent to purification, the peptide is then taken under lyophilization before it is measured. The structures of the peptides are confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis through two scans, a product ion scan and a full scan. The full scan of the peptides displays the amidated peptide\u27s molecular weight and other components that may be present within the sample. The product ion scan fragments the peptide into smaller ionic species to yield a fingerprint like spectrum of the peptide. By using the SPPS method, I have synthesized the peptides PPD and PPP