The Peptides

The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology: Volume 4: Modern Techniques of Conformational, Structural, and Configurational Analysis is an open-ended treatise that provides comprehensive and critical reviews of important developments in all areas of peptide research including analysis, synthesis, and biology. X-ray structure studies, amino acid analysis, and chiroptical analysis of configuration are discussed, along with solid-phase sequencing and ultramicroanalysis with the aid of fluorescence. This volume is comprised of six chapters and begins with an account of crystal structure analysis on molecules containing 2-12 peptide units, focusing on the variety of intramolecular hydrogen bonds, cis peptide units, and multiple conformation. Conformational changes upon complexation with metal ions are considered, together with the inclusion of solvents as integral parts of a molecular structure. The following chapters explore the conformations of insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide and related molecules, as well as the molecular biology of these hormones based on crystal structures; the usefulness of chiroptical techniques for determining the absolute configuration of amino acids and small peptides; and ultramicroanalysis of peptides and proteins by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. The final chapter looks at the status and future potential of solid-phase sequencing. This book is intended as a reference for specialists, a guide for the novice, and a forum for investigators concerned with research on peptides and proteins.

Almost two centuries ago proteins were recognized as the primary materials (proteios = primary) oflife, but the significance and wide role of peptides (from pepsis = digestion) in practically all life pro cesses has only become apparent in the last few decades. Biologi cally active peptides are now being discovered at rapid intervals in the brain and in other organs including the heart, in the skin of amphibians and many other tissues. Peptides and peptide-like compounds are found among toxins and antibiotics. It is unlikely that this process, an almost explosive broadening of the field, will come to a sudden halt. By now it is obvious that Nature has used the combination of a small to moderate number of amino acids to generate a great variety of agonists with specific and often highly sophisticated functions. Thus, peptide chemistry must be regarded as a discipline in its own right, a major branch of biochemistry, fairly separate from the chemistry of proteins. Because of the important role played by synthesis both in the study and in the practical preparation of peptides, their area can be considered as belonging to bio-organic chemistry as well. The already overwhelming and still increasing body of know ledge renders an account of the history of peptide chemistry more and more difficult. It appears therefore timely to look back, to take stock and to recall the important stages in the development of a new discipline.

In recent years, research has shown the importance of peptides in neuroscience, immunology, and cell biology. Active research programs worldwide are now engaged in developing peptide-based drugs and vaccines using modification of natural peptides and proteins, design of artificial peptides and peptide mimetics, and screening of peptide and phage libraries. In this comprehensive book, the authors discuss peptide synthesis and application within the context of their increasing importance to the pharmaceutical industry. Peptides: Synthesis, Structures, and Applications explores the broad growth of information in modern peptide synthetic methods and the structure-activity relationships of synthetic polypeptides. The history of peptide chemistry Amide formation, deprotection, and disulfide formation in peptide synthesis Solid-phase peptide synthesis a-helix formation by peptides in water Stability and dynamics of peptide conformation An overview of structure-function studies of peptide hormones Neuropeptides:peptide and nonpeptide analogs Reversible inhibitors of serine proteinases Design of polypeptides Current capabilities and future possibilities of soluble chemical combinatorial libraries Epitope mapping with peptides Synthesis and applications of branched peptides in immunological methods and vaccines

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

This book presents an overview of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), their mechanisms of antimicrobial action, other activities, and various problems that must still be overcome regarding their clinical application. Divided into four major parts, the book begins with a general overview of AMPs (Part I), and subsequently discusses the various mechanisms of antimicrobial action and methods for researching them (Part 2). It then addresses a range of activities other than antimicrobial action, such as cell penetration, antisepsis, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities (Part 3), and explores the prospects of clinical application from various standpoints such as the selective toxicity, design, and discovery of AMPs (Part 4). A huge number of AMPs have been discovered in plants, insects, and vertebrates including humans, and constitute host defense systems against invading pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, many attempts have been made to utilize AMPs as antibiotics. AMPs could help to solve the urgent problem of drug-resistant bacteria, and are also promising with regard to sepsis and cancer therapy. Gathering a wealth of information, this book will be a bible for all those seeking to develop antibiotics, anti-sepsis, or anticancer agents based on AMPs.

Biologically Active Peptides: From Basic Science to Applications for Human Health stands as a comprehensive resource on bioactive peptide science and applications. With contributions from more than thirty global experts, topics discussed include bioactive peptide science, structure-activity relationships, best practices for their study and production, and their applications. In the interdisciplinary field of bioactive peptides, this book bridges the gap between basic peptide chemistry and human physiology, while reviewing recent advances in peptide analysis and characterization. Methods and technology-driven chapters offer step-by-step guidance in peptide preparation from different source materials, bioactivity assays, analysis and identification of bioactive peptides, encoding bioactive peptides. Later, applications across disease areas and medical specialties are examined in-depth, including the use of bioactive peptides in treating obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, mental health disorders, food allergies, and joint health, among other disorders, as well as bioactive peptides for sensory enhancement, sports and clinical nutrition, lowering cholesterol, improving cardiovascular health, and driving advances in biotechnology. Discusses the latest advances in bioactive peptide chemistry, functionality and analysis Offers step-by-step instruction in applying new technologies for peptide extraction, protection, production and encoding, as well as employing bioactive peptide sequencing and bioactivity assays in new research Effectively links basic peptide chemistry, human biology and disease Features chapter contributions from international experts across disciplines and applications

This is the last of five books in the Amino Acids, Peptidesand Proteins in Organic Synthesis series. Closing a gap in the literature, this is the only series tocover this important topic in organic and biochemistry. Drawingupon the combined expertise of the international "who's who" inamino acid research, these volumes represent a real benchmark foramino acid chemistry, providing a comprehensive discussion of theoccurrence, uses and applications of amino acids and, by extension,their polymeric forms, peptides and proteins. The practical value of each volume is heightened by theinclusion of experimental procedures. The 5 volumes cover the following topics: Volume 1: Origins and Synthesis of Amino Acids Volume 2: Modified Amino Acids, Organocatalysis and Enzymes Volume 3: Building Blocks, Catalysis and Coupling Chemistry Volume 4: Protection Reactions, Medicinal Chemistry,Combinatorial Synthesis Volume 5: Analysis and Function of Amino Acids and Peptides Volume 5 of this series presents a wealth of methods to analyzeamino acids and peptides. Classical approaches are described, suchas X-ray analysis, chromatographic methods, NMR, AFM, massspectrometry and 2D-gel electrophoresis, as well as newerapproaches, including Surface Plasmon Resonance and arraytechnologies. Originally planned as a six volume series, Amino Acids,Peptides and Proteins in Organic Chemistry now completes withfive volumes but remains comprehensive in both scope andcoverage. ahref="http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-3527335463.html"Furtherinformation about the 5 Volume Set and purchasing details can beviewed here./a