Specific peptide-bond cleavage by microwave irradiation in weak acid solution

Abstract

A rapid and selective peptide-bond cleavage in weak acid, induced by microwave irradiation, has been developed. The specific cleavage sites of peptide bonds located only at the carboxyl-and amino-terminal ends of aspartyl residues along the peptide chain. A systematic study including the time course for the cleavage of various aspartyl-containing peptides, the effect of the acidity of the reaction solution on the completeness of peptide-bond cleavage, and the relationship between the power of microwave irradiation and the reaction time of cleavage are studied.