Research library

Peptide Glossary

Peptide research relies on precise scientific terminology to describe molecular structures, laboratory processes and analytical methods. Understanding these terms can help researchers interpret technical documentation, product specifications and Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) with greater confidence.

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Aggregation Aggregation is the process of grouping together separate particles, molecules, cells or other small units to form a larger group or cluster. The individual units are not necessarily chemically bonded to one another. Agonist An agonist (chemical) activates a receptor. The activation of receptors produces some type of biological activity. A receptor can be activated with hormones, neurotransmitters or drugs. Amino Acid An amino acid is a small compound that the body uses to make proteins. Protein is found throughout the body. It helps build and repair muscles, skin, organs and other tissues. Antagonist An antagonist: a compound, which usually inhibits or reduces the effect of another compound. In pharmacology, an antagonist is mainly a drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it.

Bioavailability The term bioavailability refers to the drug's presence in the blood circulation and its ability to exert its action.

Degradation Degradation is the gradual breakdown or loss of the original properties of a substance, material, molecule or biological system.

Half-life A half-life is the time required for the amount or concentration of a substance to decrease to half of its starting value. HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a laboratory technique that helps in determining and separating out the components of a mixture.

In Vitro In vitro is a Latin expression that means “in glass”. In scientific research, scientists conduct work outside of a living organism, usually in a lab. In Vivo In vivo is a Latin term that means “within the living.” In the fields of science and medicine, it refers to research, testing or experimentation performed on a living organism.

LC-MS LC-MS is liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and can measure drug concentrations using a validated quantitative method. It is an analytical technique that separates, identifies and quantifies the substances in a test sample. Lyophilisation Lyophilisation or freeze-drying is a process of removing water from a material, leaving the material in a dry and stable form. It is often used in peptide research to prepare peptides in dry powder form for storage and handling.

Mass Spectrometry Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical method that identifies and quantifies molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Molecular Formula A molecular formula shows the exact number of atoms of the elements present in a molecule. Molecular Weight Molecular weight is the mass of a single molecule, determined by the atoms that comprise it. For peptides it is derived from the amino acids in the sequence, plus any chemical modifications attached to the molecule.

Peptide Peptides are combinations of amino acids that form peptide bonds between the amino acids. Peptides and proteins have the same amino acids in their composition, and peptides can have different combinations of amino acids. Peptide Analogue Peptide analogue can be defined as a compound that resembles an existing peptide but with some alterations in structure. Peptide Fragment A small chain of amino acids derived from a larger peptide or protein. Peptides and proteins are chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Polypeptide A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. That sounds like a very technical definition, but the idea is pretty simple. Proteins are composed of amino acids. A polypeptide is a series of amino acids. Preclinical Research The stage of research that occurs before testing a new medicine, treatment, or medical product in people is known as preclinical research. Purity Purity is the quantity of the desired peptide or compound in a sample, relative to other compounds that may be present. It is usually given in per cent. Let's say you have a peptide that is 98% pure.

Receptor A receptor is a protein, usually found on the surface of a cell or inside it, that recognises a particular molecule and responds to it. The molecule may be a drug, hormone, neurotransmitter or another chemical messenger. Research Model A research model is a diagram that shows the relationships among the main ideas, factors, or variables in a research study.

Sequence The amino acids in a peptide are arranged in a specific order, and this is called the sequence. This order is normally written with one- or three-letter codes for amino acids. Solubility The ability of a substance to dissolve in a particular solvent solution is termed as solubility. Stability Stability is the ability of a substance to maintain its chemical and physical properties over a period of time under specified conditions.