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Which modification should I use to extend half-life?
It depends on why the peptide disappears. If it is cleared renally because it is small, PEGylation addresses that directly. If it is degraded by proteases, terminal capping or cyclisation may be enough on their own. If a long duration is the goal, lipidation with albumin binding is the approach behind several marketed long-acting peptides. Establishing which mechanism dominates is worth doing before choosing.
Will a modification reduce activity?
It can, and that is the main reason to place it deliberately. Any group large enough to change clearance is large enough to interfere with binding if it sits on the wrong face. Preparing two or three positional variants is usually faster than committing to one and investigating a disappointing result.
Can several modifications be combined on one peptide?
Yes, and it is common, for example a cyclised peptide that also carries a label. Combinations need an orthogonal protection scheme so each step happens at the intended site, which is a synthesis planning question rather than an afterthought. Tell us the full set of modifications at the enquiry stage rather than adding one later.
Do you supply peptides with multiple disulfide bridges?
Yes. Where more than one pair is present, the cysteines are protected orthogonally so the bridges form in the specified pairing rather than by chance, and the resulting connectivity is confirmed analytically. State the intended pairing with the sequence, because a given set of cysteines can fold into several distinct products.
What spacer should sit between the peptide and a label?
A short spacer, commonly an aminohexanoic acid or a small PEG unit, is usual. It keeps the label from interacting with the binding face and, for fluorophores, reduces quenching by nearby residues. Longer spacers give more separation but add flexibility, which can matter where the construct has to be presented on a surface.
How do I know the label went where I asked?
Mass spectrometry confirms that a single label was added and gives the expected mass shift. If the peptide has more than one residue of the type being labelled, positional assignment needs fragmentation data or an enzymatic digest, which is worth specifying up front where the position matters to the experiment.