Synthetic Peptide
A peptide produced through chemical synthesis rather than biological expression, most commonly using solid-phase peptide synthesis. Synthetic production allows incorporation of non-natural amino acids and chemical modifications not possible with recombinant methods. Most approved peptide drugs under 50 amino acids are chemically synthesised.
Technical Context
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) builds peptide chains one amino acid at a time on a solid resin support using Fmoc chemistry as the standard approach. This method allows precise sequence control and incorporation of non-natural amino acids, D-amino acids, and chemical modifications impossible with recombinant production. Most approved peptide drugs under 50 amino acids are chemically synthesised: semaglutide (31 aa + modifications), octreotide (8 aa), leuprolide (9 aa), goserelin (10 aa), and teriparatide (34 aa). Research compounds are almost universally produced by chemical synthesis. Purity is assessed by HPLC and identity confirmed by mass spectrometry.