Handling & Storage
Common Peptide Research Terms, Explained
A working glossary: the forty-odd terms that appear on certificates, in method sections and in supplier documentation.
August 12, 2026 · 7 min read · Novanta Research
Structure and synthesis
These terms describe what the molecule is and how it was built.
- Residue — a single amino acid unit within a chain
- N-terminus / C-terminus — the free amine and free acid ends of the chain
- Amidation — capping the C-terminus as an amide, common in native sequences
- Lipidation — attaching a fatty acid chain to extend duration via albumin binding
- SPPS — solid-phase peptide synthesis, the standard manufacturing route
- Deletion sequence — an impurity missing one residue from a failed coupling
- Analogue — a modified version of a native sequence
Analysis and quality
These appear on certificates of analysis.
- HPLC — chromatographic separation used to determine purity
- Area percent — purity expressed as main peak area over total peak area
- MS / LC-MS — mass spectrometry, used to confirm identity
- Net peptide content — the fraction of vial mass that is peptide
- Counter-ion — salt such as trifluoroacetate carried over from purification
- Endotoxin (EU) — bacterial lipopolysaccharide, measured by LAL or rFC
- COA — the lot-specific certificate documenting all of the above
Handling and pharmacology
Terms used in protocols and in the literature.
- Lyophilization — freeze-drying to a stable powder
- Reconstitution — dissolving lyophilized powder in a diluent
- Bacteriostatic water — sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol
- Agonist / antagonist — a compound that activates, or blocks, a receptor
- EC50 — the concentration producing half the maximal response
- Half-life — the time for circulating concentration to fall by half
- RUO — research use only, a regulatory classification
Keep reading
For laboratory and research use only. Not for human or veterinary consumption. Novanta Research is not a compounding pharmacy and nothing in this article is medical advice or a claim that any compound diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents any condition.