Peptide Technologies extends synthesis range with new Tribute

Tribute is a dual channel instrument capable of carrying out 101 consecutive amino acid couplings in two separate reaction vessels, and synthesises peptides faster than rival microwave-based systems, according to the company. Peptide Technologies has been in the peptide synthesiser market since 1990 and produces a range of instruments to suit the majority of peptide laboratories no matter what their scale of production. The instrument range includes the three channel instrument PSE, the four channel instrument Symphony Quartet, the six channel Prelude, the 12 channel Symphony, and the milligram to kilogram batch or continuous flow instrument, Sonata. All of these are geared up for rapid conventional Fmoc synthesis of peptides and they are proven to be quicker than microwave peptide synthesisers, claims Peptide Technologies. In a recent application for Alzheimer's research 12 beta amyloid (1-42) peptides were synthesised on a Symphony instrument in 12 hours whereas the microwave synthesiser took 19 hours to make just one of the peptides. The Tribute has many of the new features needed in a modern day lab. For example, the system uses very little solvent according to the company. It is fully integrated and requires no external computer but can still communicate to the operator by e-mail or via a mobile phone regarding the status of the synthesis. There is even a response by the instrument to interruptions and errors where it will drain the active reaction vessel and wash the resin with solvent to prevent any unwanted side reactions and then await restart or further instructions (there is also an automatic cleaning sequence). Cleavage of the peptide from the resin is automated and can be carried out in the same sequence with the peptide delivered as a precipitate or in solution at the end of the cycle. The system is fully secure with multi-level access for users (administrator, designer or runner) and each user being given secure log in details (electronic signature). User settings can be stored on the instrument itself or on a portable USB memory device if preferred. The casing of the synthesiser and the integrated computer screen have been fabricated to be resistant to corrosive chemicals such as TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) used for cleavage of resins. Jae H Park, the principle of Protein Technologies, commented at Pittcon 2008: "The cost of these instruments is little compared to the value of the peptide that can be produced in a short time... a little while ago a lab we sold to made back the cost of the machine in two runs from the peptide they produced." ​​"The latest applications for the Symphony and the Prelude include the synthesis of human ß amyloid (1-42) for research into Alzheimer's syndrome and these instruments have reduced the synthesis time from 54 hours down to 12 hours, which for a research lab saves a great deal in wasted time and manpower." ​