Preguntas frecuentes
Why does my peptide weigh more than the peptide I ordered?
Because the powder is not all peptide. Counter-ion, bound water and residual salts make up the rest, and together they commonly account for a substantial fraction of the mass. Peptide content quantifies this. If you are preparing solutions at a defined concentration, calculate from content rather than from gross weight.
Which wavelength should purity be reported at?
214 nm is the usual choice because the peptide bond absorbs there, so every peptide-related species is detected regardless of composition. 280 nm only sees tryptophan, tyrosine and cystine, which means it can miss impurities entirely and give a flatteringly high number. Whichever is used, it should be stated with the result.
Can mass spectrometry confirm the sequence?
Mass alone confirms composition, not order. Two sequences with the same residues in a different order have the same mass. Tandem mass spectrometry fragments the peptide and reads the order from fragment mass differences, and that is what is needed when the sequence itself is in question.
Do you analyse peptides you did not synthesise?
Yes. Independent verification of third-party material is a common request, particularly before committing a batch to a long study. Send what you have on the expected sequence and modifications, since the method has to be set up against what the material is supposed to be.
What is system suitability and why is it in the report?
It is a set of checks run alongside the samples to show the instrument and method were performing within limits during that specific run, covering aspects such as peak resolution, repeatability and tailing. Without it, a result is a number with no evidence that the measurement was working when it was taken.
How much material does analysis need?
It depends on which determinations are in scope. Identity and purity by HPLC-MS need very little. Amino acid analysis, water content, residual solvents and counter-ion determination each consume sample separately, so a full characterisation panel needs meaningfully more than a purity check. Tell us the panel and we will state the quantity.