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Peptide amidation: Production of peptide hormonesin vivo andin vitro

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Abstract

Over half of all biologically active peptides and peptide hormones are α-amidated at their C-terminus, which is essential for their full biological activities. Amidation is accomplished through the sequential reaction of the two enzymes encoded by the single bifunctional, peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM or an α-amidating enzyme). PAM catalyzes the formation of a peptide amide from peptide precursors that include a C-terminal glycine, and requires copper, molecular oxygen, and ascorbate. PAM is the only enzyme that produces peptide amidesin vivo. However, various strategies utilizing PAM, carboxypeptidase-Y enzymes, and chemical synthesis have been developed for producing peptide amidesin vitro. The growing need and importance of peptide amide drugs has highlighted the necessity for an efficientin vitro amidating system for industrial application. In recent years, recombinant systems for enzymatic amidation have received growing attention for the production of peptide hormones, like calcitonin and oxytocin. This review presents the current situation regarding amidation, with a special emphasis on the industrial production of peptide hormones.

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  1. Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering and Bioproducts Research Center, Yonsei University, 120-749, Seoul, Korea

    Kyun-Hwan Kim

  2. Protheon Inc., 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, 120-749, Seoul, Korea

    Baik L. Seong

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Kim, KH., Seong, B.L. Peptide amidation: Production of peptide hormonesin vivo andin vitro . Biotechnol. Bioprocess Eng. 6, 244–251 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931985

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