Peptide design guidelines

How to design peptides

Peptide design can play a crucial role from a technical perspective. Depending on amino acids' nature and position, a peptide can be difficult to synthesize or purify, difficult to solubilize or poorly stable over time. Here are a few basic tips we can share. As each peptide is different, feel free to get in touch with us at icpeptide@gmail.com.

• Highly basic peptide can be amidated in C-ter to gain a positive charge.
• Highly acid peptides can be capped in N-ter by acetyl group to gain a negative charge.
• Avoid oxidation-sensitive amino acids (Met, Cys, Trp). Met can eventually be replaced by Noreleucine, Cysteine by Serine, Tryptophan by Lysine.
• Shorter is better. Short sequences <20 amino acids are easier to synthesize.
• Avoid -DG- sequences.
• Avoid Q (Gln) in N-terminal extremity; it tends to cyclize during the chemical production.
• Basic peptides have to be preferred (positive net charge).
• Try to have charged residues in the sequence (R, K, D, E).
• Avoid peptide with more than 50% hydrophobic amino acids content (see peptide solubility guidelines). Mutate by polar aa such as Gly or Pro.

Custom peptide synthesis service

Visit our custom peptide synthesis and peptide modification pages to discover what IC-PEPTIDE can offer, or contact us to discuss your project.