5. Methylation
The methylation of proteins has been established as an important modification that helps regulate cellular functions such as transcription, cell division, and cell differentiation. Post-translational N-methylation usually occurs on lysine or arginine sidechains. Peptides that represent methylated proteins are useful for protein-protein interaction studies or structural determination by x-ray crystallography. GenScript can synthesize peptides containing mono-, di-, and tri-methylated lysines at >98% purity, as well as other methylation combinations.
6. BSA, KLH, OVA Conjugation
Peptide antigens are often too small to generate significant immune responses on their own. To solve this problem, these peptides are conjugated to bigger carrier proteins, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin, or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). One of the advantages of KLH is that it does not interfere with ELISA or western blotting because it is not used as a blocking reagent. One common means of conjugation method is the maleimide method, which couples the cysteine residue of the peptide to the carrier protein. To perform this conjugation, one cysteine residue is added to the N- or C-terminus of the peptide so that it may be linked to the carrier protein.
Note: KLH is a large (MW = 4*105 to 1*107) aggregating protein. Because of its size and structure, its solubility in water is often limited, giving solutions and mixtures a cloudy appearance. This does not affect immunogenicity and the turbid solution can be used for immunizations.
6. PEGylation
PEGylation is the covalent conjugation of macromolecules (antibody, peptide, etc.) with polyethylene glycol (PEG), polymers that are nonionic, nontoxic, biocompatible and highly hydrophilic. The PEGylated macromolecules have enhanced therapeutic properties due to their increased solubility (for hydrophobic drugs) and bioavailability, masked antigenicity for minimum immune response in host, prolonged circulatory time within host through reduced renal clearance.
7. Isotope Labeling
For NMR measurement, we can label peptides with stable nonradioactive isotopes. Peptides labeled with 2H, 15N, 13C, or both 15N and 13C can be synthesized for convenient detection in research. Please submit your sequence and request for a customized labeling of your peptides.
8. MAPS
Multiple antigen peptide application is one potent way to produce high-titer anti-peptide antibodies and synthetic peptide vaccines. This system utilizes the α- and ε-amino groups of lysine to form a backbone to which multiple peptide chains can be attached. Depending on the number of lysine tiers, different numbers of peptide branches can be synthesized. This eliminates the need to conjugate the antigen to a protein carrier.