C-terminal Amidation
Also known as: amidation · amidated · C-terminal amide
Capping a peptide’s C-terminus with an amide group to mimic the natural molecule and slow enzymatic breakdown.
C-terminal amidation replaces the free carboxyl (–COOH) at a peptide’s C-terminus with an amide (–CONH₂). Many natural bioactive peptides are amidated in the body, and the modification is often required for full activity.
Synthetically, amidation also protects the terminus from carboxypeptidase enzymes, extending stability and half-life. A Certificate of Analysis notes whether a peptide is amidated, since it changes the exact mass measured by mass spectrometry.
RELATED TERMS
N-terminus & C-terminus
The two ends of a peptide chain: the N-terminus has a free amino group, the C-terminus a free carboxyl group.
N-terminal Acetylation
Capping a peptide’s N-terminus with an acetyl group to improve stability and resistance to breakdown.
Half-Life
The time for a compound’s concentration to fall by half — a key determinant of dosing frequency in research.
Analog
A peptide deliberately modified from a natural sequence to improve stability, selectivity or potency.
Mass Spectrometry
An analytical method that measures a molecule’s mass to confirm a peptide’s identity matches its intended sequence.
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