Common Terminology in Peptide Research: A Glossary for Beginners

Amino Acid

The basic building block of peptides and proteins, amino acids link together through peptide bonds to form chains of varying length and function.

Peptide Bond

The chemical bond connecting two amino acids in a chain, formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of the next.

Lyophilization

A freeze-drying process that removes water from a sample under vacuum, producing a stable powder form that generally has a longer shelf life than a liquid solution.

Reconstitution

The process of adding a diluent back to a lyophilized compound to return it to a liquid solution for laboratory use.

HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)

An analytical technique used to separate and quantify the components of a sample, commonly used to determine peptide purity.

Mass Spectrometry

An analytical method that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ionized molecules, used to confirm a peptide’s molecular weight and identity.

Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

A document summarizing testing results for a specific product batch, including purity, identity, and sometimes contaminant screening.

Cold-Chain Shipping

A temperature-controlled shipping process designed to keep temperature-sensitive materials within a specific range from packaging to delivery.