Chemical protein synthesis: Inventing synthetic methods to decipher how proteins work

Publication date: 15 September 2017
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 25, Issue 18
Author(s): Stephen Kent
Total chemical synthesis of proteins has been rendered practical by the chemical ligation principle: chemoselective condensation of unprotected peptide segments equipped with unique, mutually reactive functional groups, enabled by formation of a non-native replacement for the peptide bond. Ligation chemistries are briefly described, including native chemical ligation – thioester-mediated, amide-forming reaction at Xaa-Cys sites – and its extensions. Case studies from the author's own works are used to illustrate the utility and applications of chemical protein synthesis. Selected recent developments in the field are briefly discussed.

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