Photochemical functionalization of peptides and proteins

Protein synthesis is a key method within drug discovery and development and is being increasingly used to produce peptide-based therapeutics, providing targeted solutions for patients. The traditional method is solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), however, when scaling up is needed to meet high-volume demands, this approach may not be feasible.

Vapourtec shares how scientists from Novo Nordisk conducted a protein synthesis study to assess the production of amides from peptides and proteins of a GLP-1R agonist and analogue of PYY, at both a small and large scale. The researchers found they were able to successfully produce C-terminal amides in both a good yield and in a single day, using an alternative flow photochemistry method performed via the Vapourtec R-Series flow system integrated with the UV-150 photochemical reactor. The scientists noted that this reaction meets the high demands of scaled-up processes, highlighting the efficiency of photochemistry for peptide-based therapeutics.