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Welcome to the UNC Peptide Synthesis Core Facility

Our facility provides researchers with high quality services, including peptide design, synthesis, purification, and characterization.

About Us

The facility uses automated Fmoc Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) to make the synthetic peptides (the principles of Fmoc SPPS are described in References 1 and 2). We are routinely making 20-30-mer peptides, but we also have experience with synthesis of longer sequences (40-60-mer). Peptide homogeneity is evaluated by mass analysis (MALDI-TOF MS) and analytical HPLC. Usually we synthesize peptides on 10 to 100 µmol scale (~5 to 200 mg of crude peptide), but we can do a large scale synthesis if needed.

We specialize in synthesis of multiply modified peptides containing PTMs, unnatural amino acids, and fluorescent tags. Below are some of the peptide modifications we can introduce into your peptide sequence:

  • acetylation (N-terminal or Lys(Ac))
  • biotinylation (C-, N-terminal or Lys(Biot))
  • methylation (on Lys or Arg residues)
  • phosphorylation (on Ser, Thr, or Tyr residues)
  • fluorescent tags and quenchers (e.g 5-Fam, 5-Tamra, BBQ-650)
  • metal cations complexing tags (e.g., DOTA, NOTA)
  • D- forms of amino acids
  • unnatural amino acids (e.g. 6-Cl-Trp)
  • amino acids containing stable isotopes (e.g. 2H, 13C, 15N)
  • PEG linkers/spacers
  • peptide cyclization (head to tail and -S-S-)

We can also make Multiple Antigenic Peptides (MAPs) for polyclonal antibodies generation (see MAPs section for details).
We have a capability to synthesize mid size libraries of crude peptides (~100 peptides in 2-3 weeks).

We would be happy to discuss your peptide needs and other modifications that you may require.

Additionally we offer MS and MS/MS analysis of peptide samples on AB Sciex 5800 MALDI-TOF/TOF instrument.

This instrument is also accessible as a walk-up instrument for trained internal users.

We obtain on-going support from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center through the University Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Center Support Grant. Consequently, publications supported by the UNC Center for Structural Biology must acknowledge NIH grant P30CA016086 and be submitted to PubMed Central in compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy.

Suggested acknowledgement: “The peptide synthesis was performed in the UNC Peptide Synthesis Core facility (RRID:SCR_017837), work was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number P30CA016086.”