The World of Peptides

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIII

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2. Introduction. Amino Acids and a Few Early Paradigmatic Peptides

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 1-22

3. Syntheses of Peptides. The First Epoch

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 23-43

4. The Era After Emil Fischer. The Carbobenzoxy Group, Max Bergmann and His Scientific Circle

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 44-76

5. A Second Breakthrough: New Methods for the Formation of the Peptide Bond

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 77-102

6. A New Technology: Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 103-112

7. Structure Elucidation

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 113-135

8. Peptide Hormones

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 136-180

9. Biologically Active Fragments of Proteins

   • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

   Pages 181-192

10. Biologically Active Peptides from Microorganisms and Fungi

    • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

    Pages 193-227

11. Peptide Research Around the World

    • Theodor Wieland, Miklos Bodanszky

    Pages 228-248

12. Back Matter

    Pages 249-300

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Almost two centuries ago proteins were recognized as the primary materials (proteios = primary) oflife, but the significance and wide role of peptides (from pepsis = digestion) in practically all life pro­ cesses has only become apparent in the last few decades. Biologi­ cally active peptides are now being discovered at rapid intervals in the brain and in other organs including the heart, in the skin of amphibians and many other tissues. Peptides and peptide-like compounds are found among toxins and antibiotics. It is unlikely that this process, an almost explosive broadening of the field, will come to a sudden halt. By now it is obvious that Nature has used the combination of a small to moderate number of amino acids to generate a great variety of agonists with specific and often highly sophisticated functions. Thus, peptide chemistry must be regarded as a discipline in its own right, a major branch of biochemistry, fairly separate from the chemistry of proteins. Because of the important role played by synthesis both in the study and in the practical preparation of peptides, their area can be considered as belonging to bio-organic chemistry as well. The already overwhelming and still increasing body of know­ ledge renders an account of the history of peptide chemistry more and more difficult. It appears therefore timely to look back, to take stock and to recall the important stages in the development of a new discipline.

• Alanin
• Chemical synthesis
• amino acid
• antibiotics
• biochemistry
• chemistry
• crystal
• enzymes
• heart
• nucleic acid
• organic chemistry
• protein
• proteins
• spin
• synthesis

• Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Heidelberg, Germany

  Theodor Wieland

• Princeton, USA

  Miklos Bodanszky

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