Peptide Synthesis in Organic Solvents Catalyzed by an Industrial Alkaline Protease “Alcalase”

Abstract

AbstractAn industrial alkaline protease “Alcalase” is stable (half life > 5 days in ethanol or in t‐butanol) and active in alcoholic solvents (except methanol), and usable as a catalyst for kinetically controlled peptide bond formation in these solvents. We give an overview of our use of alcalase as catalyst in peptide synthesis; it includes 1) the stability of alcalase in various organic solvents; 2) the resolution of N‐protected amino acids at large concentration of organic solvent; 3) the saponification of Fmoc‐peptide esters in high concentration of organic solvent; 4) kinetically controlled peptide bond formation in alcoholic solvent, and 5) enzymatic synthesis of a Cathepsin inhibitor, peptidyl Q‐acyl hydroxamates.