Automated polypeptide synthesis process

A process for the manufacture of peptides by solid phase synthesis in which successive amino acids are brought to a carboxyl-activated state and linked successively together at active sites on a solid substrate via an end carboxyl group, the amino acids being added with the amino group protected and subsequently deprotected after linkage,

• characterised in that:
• each of the amino acids is initially in a non-carboxyl-activated state and is brought to a carboxyl-activated state in a common activation vessel;
• the activation vessel is fed successively with an aliquot of the appropriate amino acid in the non-carboxyl-activated state;
• the linkage reaction takes place successively in a common reaction vessel containing the substrate;
• the reaction vessel is fed successively with the aliquot from the activation vessel of the appropriate amino acid in a carboxyl-activated state in an appropriate coupling medium;
• and
• the cycle of process steps together with ancillary preparatory steps is carried out automatically.

A process for the manufacture of a peptide by solid phase synthesis in which successive amino acids are brought to a carboxyl-activated state and linked successively together at active sites on a solid substrate via an end carboxyl group, the amino acids being added with the amino group protected and subsequently deprotected after linkage,

• characterised in that:
• each amino acid is brought in aliquots in succession to a common extraction apparatus in a sequence related to the sequence of amino acids in the peptide, each amino acid aliquot being contained in its own volume and having an identifier associated with said volume, each aliquot being extracted from its volume to be used in the manufacture of the peptide;
• the linkage reaction takes place successively in a common reaction vessel containing the substrate;
• the reaction vessel is fed successively with the aliquot of the appropriate amino acid in a carboxyl-activated state in an appropriate coupling medium;
• the appropriate aliquot of each amino acid in its activated state in said coupling medium is prepared immediately prior to use;
• the identifier on each volume of amino acid is monitored;
• the cycle of process steps together with ancillary preparatory steps and monitoring is carried out automatically;
• and
• cycle temperature and cycle periods can be varied with each amino acid according to a computer program in response to the sequence of amino acid identified by monitoring said identifiers.