Solid phase synthesis (SPS) is primarily used in modern industrial and academic synthesis of drugs because these kinds of methods allow rapid synthesis of low molecular weight drugs. In this research two separate SPS experiments were completed to decide which approach can be utilized for a higher yield. The purpose of the first SPPS based experiment was to synthesize a peptide with various N- terminal labeling groups. The second SPPS focused on the same method but used unnatural amino acids to determine robustness in the solid phase synthesis approach. A biologically active peptide was created using the Fmoc strategy and a marker was attached in the last step in place of the amino acid. The markers are designed to target bioconjugates. The samples were analyzed by a mass spectrometer. The experiment was completed using a manual method, which was inexpensive, did not require complicated instruments, and were easy to perform. These processes can be changed by adding more, using other amino acids, or using other markers. The ultimate goal of this study is to synthesize an antimicrobial peptide. Every year about 2 million people in the United States are infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics; however, at least 23 thousand of these cases result in death. Others die from conditions caused by these resistant infections. Therefore, there is a desperate need to discovery new antimicrobials using an affordable and easy process. Peptides have the ability to be antimicrobials and the SPPS process has become a predominant method in synthesizing peptides due to it being affordable and simple. There is now an active area of research for novel antimicrobial peptides. Further experimentation will include designing a unique peptide sequence, synthesizing it using the methods previously optimized, and assaying its antimicrobial activity.

Solid phase peptide synthesis protocol optimization and application

255th National Meeting (2018)

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