What are Oligopeptides?
Oligopeptides are short chains of amino acids that are typically made up of 2-20 amino acid units. They are smaller and less complex than peptides and proteins, which can consist of many hundreds of amino acids. Multiple research studies confirm that proteins are ultimately assimilated in the guise of oligopeptides and amino acids, with the transportation capability of oligopeptide carriers surpassing the combined capacities of various amino acid carriers. Upon entering the human body and transitioning into organic tissues, oligopeptides are defined by their swift absorption, minimal energy expenditure, and low saturation level. Moreover, oligopeptides exhibit numerous novel functions exceeding those of the original protein amino acids. Oligopeptides are integral to the living process, assuming vital roles in the biological operations of the body such as hormone modulation, immune reaction, and cell-to-cell communication. They also have the potential to act as antibiotics. Insulin, oxytocin, and vasopressin serve as examples of oligopeptides.
Dipeptides, Tripeptides, Tetrapeptides, and Oligopeptides
Dipeptides, tripeptides, tetrapeptides, and oligopeptides are all different types of peptides, which are short chains of amino acids that are linked together by peptide bonds.
- Dipeptides are the simplest form of peptides and consist of only two amino acids linked together by a single peptide bond. For example, carnosine is a dipeptide composed of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine.
- Tripeptides consist of three amino acids linked together by two peptide bonds. One common example of a tripeptide is glutathione, which is composed of the amino acids glutamine, cysteine, and glycine.
- Tetrapeptides, as the name suggests, contain four amino acids linked together by three peptide bonds.
- Oligopeptides are a little more complex and can contain anywhere between two and twenty amino acids. The term oligopeptide is somewhat of a catch-all category for peptides that aren't classified as di-, tri-, or tetrapeptides.
These peptides play various roles in the body, from acting as neurotransmitters to regulating various physiological functions. They can also be used in various medical and cosmetic applications. For example, certain peptides are used in anti-aging skin creams for their purported ability to stimulate collagen production, improve skin elasticity, and reduce wrinkles.
Fig. 1 The dipeptides with interesting biological activities. (Wang, T., 2019)
Methods of Oligopeptide Synthesis
Various methods have been reported for the synthesis or formation of peptide bonds, such as chemical synthesis, chemo-enzymatic synthesis, and enzymatic synthesis (biosynthesis).
1. Chemical Synthesis
The chemical synthesis of dipeptides usually includes four principal procedures: (1) protection of functional groups, (2) activation of the free carboxy group, (3) formation of a peptide bond, and (4) removal of the protecting groups. With chemical synthesis, almost all designed dipeptides can be synthesized with appropriate protecting groups, and the yield is usually high.
The SPPS, first introduced by Merrifield, has been a widely used method for oligopeptide synthesis due to its high efficiency and ease of purification. Recent advancements in microwave-assisted SPPS have enhanced the reaction rates, making the synthesis process more cost-effective. However, technical difficulties such as racemization and epimerization remain significant challenges.
As a conventional technique, LPPS offers advantages such as easy scale-up and the ability to prepare large peptides. The recent introduction of heat-assisted LPPS has made it more efficient and environmentally friendly. Yet, the separation of the target peptide from by-products and excess reagents is still a problem.
The combination of LPPS and SPPS, although in its infancy stage, is making a promising approach for oligopeptide synthesis. This method offers the advantages of both SPPS and LPPS, potentially overcoming their individual drawbacks.
2. Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis
The chemo-enzymatic synthesis of dipeptides results from the reverse reaction catalyzed by peptide bond-hydrolyzing enzymes (proteases or esterases). This method includes two distinct types of reaction processes: the thermodynamically controlled process or the kinetically controlled process. The former is carried out to drive the equilibrium toward peptide synthesis with necessary interventions, such as the precipitation of synthesized dipeptides or reaction with a large excess of substrates. The latter is dependent on an acylated serine or cysteine protease, which will then undergo a competitive deacylation process with water and the other amino acid. This method leads to temporary accumulation of the formed dipeptide. Compared with the chemical synthesis process, these two methods usually involve stricter stereoselectivity and milder conditions.
3. Enzymatic Synthesis
Various enzymatic machineries that can catalyze the synthesis of dipeptides, such as the ribosome, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), ATP (Adenosine triphophate)-grasp enzymes, and α-amino acid ester acyltransferases, have been found in nature. These naturally occurring peptide-synthesizing enzymes seem to be ideal catalysts for dipeptide synthesis, even though they are diverse in their specificity and physiological function. Based on the intermediates formed in the catalytic process, either aminoacyl-AMP (Adenosine monophosphate) or aminoacyl phosphate, these enzymes are generally divided into two categories The representatives of the former category are the ribosome, tRNA-dependent ligases, adenylate-forming amide ligases, and the NRPSs. The latter category usually contains a variety of enzymes, which usually shares a characteristic ATP-grasp motif in their amino acid sequence and are known as the ATP-grasp enzymes. This includes glutathione synthetase, d-alanine-d-alanine ligase, and other ATP-grasp enzymes.
Fig. 2 The reaction mechanism of two distinct types of biocatalysts for the synthesis of dipeptides. (1) Acyladenylate intermediates are formed in the process catalyzed by NRPSs. (2) Acylphosphate intermediates are formed in the process catalyzed by ATP-grasp enzymes. (Wang, T., 2019)
Advantages of Oligopeptides
In recent years, with the development of biotechnology and the introduction of oligopeptide absorption mechanism, the research on oligopeptides has received more and more attention. The advantages are mainly reflected in:
- Compared with traditional chemical synthetic drugs, oligopeptides are close to physiological substances of human body, so they are more easily absorbed, the activity is higher, and the toxicity is lower.
- Compared with complete protein, oligopeptides have lower immunogenicity and can reduce the occurrence of allergic reactions.
- Oligopeptide has many biological functions, such as antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, and can be used in many fields, such as medical treatment, health care, cosmetics and so on.
- The development of new chemical drugs is more and more difficult, the input is getting higher and higher, and the peptides in nature are widely available.
- The synthetic protein technology has been quite mature, once the oligopeptide drug is successfully developed, it can be put into mass production.
Applications of Oligopeptides
Pharmaceuticals: Oligopeptides are used in the pharmaceutical industry in the development of new drugs. They can act as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and have been used in treatments for conditions like diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases.
Cosmetics: In the cosmetics industry, oligopeptides are used in different skincare products. They can help with skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production, reducing wrinkles, and improving skin elasticity.
Chemical Research: Oligopeptides play a vital role in chemical research, particularly in the study of protein structure and function. They can also be used to study peptide–protein interactions, important for understanding biological processes.
Diagnostics: Oligopeptides can be used in the development of diagnostic tools. They can act as biomarkers in different diagnostics tests, helping to detect diseases in the early stages.
Vaccines: Some oligopeptides have been used in the development of vaccines. They can help stimulate an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies against specific pathogens.
Food Industry: In the food industry, oligopeptides are used as functional foods because of their health-enhancing properties. They can also be used in the preparation of dietary supplements.
Biotechnological Applications: Oligopeptides can be used in various biotechnological applications like enzyme immobilization, cellulose degradation, and in the advancement of bioactive materials.
Agriculture: Certain oligopeptides have been explored for their potential uses in plant growth and protection, by increasing the resistance of plants to pests or improving their adaptation to environmental stress.
Wound Healing: Some oligopeptides have shown promising results in promoting wound healing because of their antimicrobial properties and their ability to stimulate cell migration and growth.
Fitness Supplements: Oligopeptides are used in the creation of certain bodybuilding and fitness supplements due to their ability to help in muscle recovery and growth.
Our Oligopeptide Synthesis Services
- Custom Oligopeptide Synthesis: We custom prepare each oligopeptide to meet the unique requirements of your specific research or application. This includes a variety of lengths, sequences, and modifications in order to create the perfect oligopeptide for your project.
- Synthesis of Various Scales: Small scale, high throughput to bulk scale contract synthesis.
- Purity Analysis and Quality Control: We perform rigorous purity analysis and quality control checks on all synthesized oligopeptides. We guarantee unmatched purity levels and provide complete transparency with detailed CoAs (Certificates of Analysis).
- Wide Variety of Modifications: Our team has extensive experience in peptide modification. These include dye labels, isotope labels, phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, and more.
- Peptide Library Synthesis: Our skilled team can create comprehensive peptide libraries for high-throughput screening, epitope mapping, and many other applications.
- Protein Peptide Conjugation: We offer expert services in peptide-protein conjugation for vaccine development, antibody production, and other applications.
Our Advantages
Every step of peptide synthesis is subject to Creative Peptides' stringent quality control. Typical delivery specifications include:
- HPLC chromatogram
- Mass spec analysis
- Synthesis report
- Certificate of Analyses
FAQ
1. What is oligopeptide synthesis?
Oligopeptide synthesis is a scientific technique used to create oligopeptides, which are short chains of amino acids. it allows precise control over the sequence of the peptides, and is often used in pharmaceutical development, biochemical research and life science studies.
2. How does oligopeptide synthesis work?
The process of oligopeptide synthesis involves the agglomeration of amino acids in a specific order. This is primarily achieved through techniques such as solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) or liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS).
3. Can you synthesize any type of oligopeptide?
As a leading biopharmaceutical company, we have advanced technologies and expertise that allow us to synthesize a wide range of oligopeptides. However, the feasibility of synthesizing certain peptides depends on their complexity and characteristics.
4. Are your synthesis services customizable?
Yes, our synthesis services are highly customizable. We can synthesize peptides based on the specific needs and requirements of our client. In addition to oligopeptide synthesis, we also provide services such as peptide modification, labeling, and purification.
5. Do you provide oligopeptide synthesis services for bulk orders?
Yes, we do provide oligopeptide synthesis for bulk orders. We have a well-equipped facility and experienced professionals who can accommodate large-scale production while still maintaining high-quality standards.
6. How to ensure the purity of synthesized oligopeptides?
We utilize state-of-the-art analytical technologies such as HPLC and MS for quality control to ensure the purity of our oligopeptides. Each synthesized oligopeptide undergoes stringent quality checks before delivery.
7. How much does your oligopeptide synthesis service cost?
The cost of our oligopeptide synthesis service varies depending on several factors such as the complexity of the peptide sequence, the scale of synthesis, the level of purity required, and additional modifications or services. Please contact us for a customized quote.
Reference
- Wang, T., et al. Strategy for the biosynthesis of short oligopeptides: Green and sustainable chemistry. Biomolecules. 2019, 9(11): 733.
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