Proteolytic enzymes in peptide synthesis.

In this paper, the literature of the past few years on the application of the proteolytic enzymes in peptide synthesis is summarized. The principle is sound and peptide synthesis for commercial purposes appears feasible. The exclusion of water or its use at a low concentration in immiscible or in biphasic media ensures controlled hydrolysis. The use of proteolytic enzymes attached to a solid support has proved a convenient method of synthesis. Synthesis of peptides with some enzymes occurs by bond exchange but with others the enzymes can extract a water molecule from a free carboxy and an unprotected group so as to create an amide bond.