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To understand peptide, we will need to understand a few other terms first. protein and amino acids, for instance. We all are familiar with the word 'protein'. We all know that milk and milk products, meat, fish, eggs etc, are rich in proteins and form an important part of the diet of human beings and animals. But what exactly is a protein? Well, it is a group of highly complex organic compounds found in all living cells. It is a large molecule composed of one or more acids, which are linked by peptide bonds. |
What are amino acids? We will try to make the answer as simple as possible. These are a class of organic compounds. For those who are scientifically inclined, these are a class of organic compounds having a carboxyl group (COOH) and an amino group (NH2). Some 22 amino acids are commonly found in animals and more than 100 less common forms are found in nature, chiefly in plants and chains of these amino acids are joined head-to-tail by peptides to form a protein. Next time your doctor says that your diet is lacking in proteins, you'll know what exactly he is talking of! The evolution of peptides It was Emil Fischer who while working on proteins in the early 20th century discovered that protein structures consisted of amino acids. He named this particular branch of science as peptide chemistry. His discovery opened up new vistas of research for
scientists. Following years of backbreaking research work, scientists could finally
link amino acids together to make proteins. While linking amino acids, however, it
was found that these contain certain impurities. This gave rise to the need for
deprotection reagents which could remove impurities from amino acids before
joining them. The purifying process was termed the de-protection method. Also, once a group of amino acids were
linked together to form a protein molecule, they needed to be safeguarded against
impurities again. Thus came into being protection reagents. The process came to be known
as the protection method. New generation drugs offer great opportunities The global
market for commercial peptides is a high value and low volume one, estimated at $2-2.5bn.
It is expected to grow at the Rate of 50% over the next 3 years. But what will
propel this growth? The widespread application of peptides and peptide-based products
in drugs used in treating new generation diseases like AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular
diseases, Alzheimer's disease, allergy etc.
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