VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON PEPTIDEN UND VERWENDUNG

2.1 The enzymatic synthesis of peptides takes place advantageously using proteases although the hydrolysis, associated with the formation of the peptide product, of the acyl-enzyme intermediate and further possible proteolytic cleavages represent a problem in many synthetic reactions. The yield of peptide product is limited thereby, and the removal of by-products is impeded. The new biocatalytic peptide preparation is intended to take place with exclusion as far as possible of unwanted proteolytic side reactions. 2.2 The biocatalytic preparation of a peptide takes place advantageously by using a zymogen in place of the protease customarily used. Since zymogens are protease precursors which are still without proteolytic activity, there is substantial suppression of proteolytic side reactions. Amino acid esters or peptide esters and amino acids or peptide fragments with C-terminal derivatisation are preferably coupled together. The reaction can also take place in a frozen aqueous medium. Particularly suitable zymogens are chymotrypsinogen, trypsinogen, pepsinogen, prorennin or procarboxypeptidase. 2.3 Enzymatic or biocatalysed peptide synthesis.