title: Automated peptide-resin deprotection/cleavage by a robotic workstation.
abstract: A robotic workstation has been constructed that automates the deprotection of peptides with trifluoroacetic acid-labile side-chain protecting groups and cleavage from acid-labile resins. The workstation was constructed around a Zymark robot arm and is integrated with a peptide synthesis workstation. Peptide resin samples are deprotected and cleaved with a trifluoroacetic acid/scavenger cocktail that accommodates all common protecting groups used with Fmoc chemistry. Aqueous-ether continuous extraction is used to remove the scavengers and reaction by-products. The apparatus cleaves a 50-500-mg sample of peptide resin every 2 hours and provides the peptides as an aqueous solution in 10% HOAc. Crude peptides obtained with this apparatus are free from residual scavengers and range in yield from 50%-80%. This method is applicable to all but the most hydrophobic peptides and minimizes human contact with the noxious cleavage reagents.
authors.affiliation: Chiron Corporation, Emeryville, CA 94608.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Zuckermann
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Banville
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012371:Robotics; D014269:Trifluoroacetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005449:Fluorenes; C016456:N(alpha)-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonylamino acids; D009842:Oligopeptides; D014269:Trifluoroacetic Acid