General overview
At Eurogentec we believe that quality products save you time. Our peptide synthesis know-how and production facilities have been in place since 1997. To date we have synthesized over 23,000 research peptides (5-100 mg scale) for academic research and top tier pharmaceutical laboratories around the world. Peptides are synthesized 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, are delivered as lyophilized dry powders and shipped overnight with all pertinent quality control datasheets. Peptides are normally shipped within 2 weeks from the reception of your order.
Sequence Analysis
Feasibility evaluations are conducted on all peptide sequences prior to synthesis. Using commercial software and based on our own internal database of difficult to synthesize sequences, a determination is made regarding the complexity of the synthesis. This includes a hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity plot (Hoop-Woods and Kyte-Doolittle algorithms). For antibody production we also include antigenic index (Jameson-Wolf) and surface probability evaluations. Should any of these parameters be too low you will be informed prior to the acceptance of your order.
Chemistry
Eurogentec uses state-of-the-art chemistries and fully automated instruments for the production of custom peptides. Two methods are available, solid phase FMOC based chemistry and Eurogentec’s proprietary solid phase chemistry for the rapid synthesis of large custom peptide libraries. Peptides are synthesized with multiple couplings per step to ensure sequence integrity, once synthesized these are cleaved from the solid support, precipitated and washed repeatedly with ether. Both methods provide routine access to peptide of 6 to 25 amino acids in length, longer peptides are evaluated on a case by case basis. FMOC synthesis can provide peptides in numerous scales, from 1 mg up to gram scales.
Purification and QC
All peptides are analyzed by MALDI Mass Spectrometry to determine the molecular weight of the synthesized peptide, free of charge. Comparison of the theoretical molecular weight with the experimentally determined molecular weight confirms the absence of amino acid deletions or double couplings. MALDI is an excellent method for determining the presence of the desired product, but an inadequate method for the determination of purity. Due to the variant efficiencies of peptide ionization in the MALDI instrument, peak intensities in MALDI spectra are not necessarily quantitative. For this reason all non-crude peptides at Eurogentec are analysed by Reverse-Phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) to determine purity.
Precipitated peptides are analysed on a Waters Alliance, RP-HPLC instrument equipped with an auto-sampler for continuous analysis. Peptides that meet or exceed the purity requirements are then lyophilized, packaged and shipped to the customer at room temperature by overnight dispatch. Peptides are available as crude, > 70 %, > 85 % and > 95 % purity depending on your research applications.
Sourcing of starting material
Transmissible spongiform encephalitis (TSE) disease has prompted suppliers of peptide active pharmaceutical intermediates to only use amino acids from non-animal sources. Eurogentec and its suppliers of amino acids starting blocks can supply upon request certification stating the origin of the starting amino acids and detail the risks associated with TSE contamination. Eurogentec’s peptide synthesis process is certified to be free of material from animal or human origin during synthesis, purification and storage.
