Article

Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new peptide ligation method utilizing boron-containing molecules to simplify the synthesis of complex proteins for cancer therapies. This technique operates at micromolar concentrations, allowing for the assembly of proteins that typically aggregate, such as PD-L2, a target in immunotherapy.

The method incorporates a potassium acyltrifluoroborate (KAT) group and a hydroxylamine group for efficient bonding. Additionally, a protecting-group system was designed to integrate this new chemistry with standard peptide synthesis workflows. The advancement could enhance the production of therapeutic proteins and antibody-drug conjugates in modern medicine.