Computer-driven amino acid indexer for peptide synthesis

US5243540A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Stephen A. Van Albert · Gaithersburg, US
• Jaime Lee · Gaithersburg, US
• Jeffrey A. Lyon · Woodinville, US
• John M. Carter · Trenton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 1991
• Grant date: Sep 7, 1993
• Expiry date: Apr 3, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C40B60/14
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An automated, computer-driven amino acid indexer for peptide synthesis uses programmed computer, a circuit board controller, and a combination of microtiter sample well trays, light emitting diodes to illuminate each sample well, and circuitry to control the illumination of the diodes. The apparatus simplifies technical difficulties present in large-scale laboratory syntheses of peptides by substantially reducing the time required for dispensing amino acids into sample trays and reducing the occurrence of error in the process to negligible levels in typical syntheses. A programmed, automated technique for synthesizing peptides is also provided.