As the technology base for the preparation of increasingly c- plex peptides has improved, the methods for their purification and ana- sis have also been improved and supplemented. Peptide science routinely utilizes tools and techniques that are common to organic chemistry, p- tein chemistry, biophysical chemistry, enzymology, pharmacology, and molecular biology. A fundamental understanding of each of these areas is essential for interpreting all of the data that a peptide scientist may see. The purpose of Peptide Analysis Protocols is to provide the novice with sufficient practical information necessary to begin developing useful analysis and separation skills. Understanding and developing these skills will ultimately yield a scientist with broadened knowledge and good problem-solving abilities. Although numerous books that address d- ferent specialties, such as HPLC, FAB-MS, CE, and NMR, have been written, until now no single volume has reviewed all of these techniques with a focus on "getting started" in separation and analysis of peptides. This volume will also provide those who already possess practical knowledge of the more advanced aspects of peptide science with detailed applications for each of these protocols. Because the chapters have been written by researchers active in each of the fields that they discuss, a great deal of information on and insight into solution of real problems that they have encountered is presented. Examplary results are clearly demonstrated and discussed. For more advanced investi- tions, supplementary experiments are often suggested.

In September, 1990, a group of 160 scientists from 19 countries and 21 of the United States met at the Red Lion Inn in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, California. The purpose of this meeting was to share new information from recent research on the Aspartic Proteinases. This book is a compilation of the information transferred in that forum. The Aspartic Proteinases include all those enzymes from the "fourth" class of proteolytic enzymes, the first three being the Serine, Cysteine and Metalloproteinases. Of course, all the scientists in attendance at the Sonoma Aspartic Proteinase Conference would agree that our current level of understanding of the structure and function of the Aspartic Proteinase class of enzymes is clearly first class. The reasons for this require a bit of historical perspective. The group of scientists who are engaged in study of this family of enzymes first met as a separate entity in 1976, in Norman, Oklahoma, at a meeting organized by Jordan Tang of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. This was an exciting time, as the first crystal structures of some of these enzymes were described by Blundell, James and Davies. During that conference, the relationship between the two halves of the mammalian and fungal enzymes was recognized and this has provided a structural foundation for analysis of the retroviral enzymes, which came later. A book was published by Plenum Press documenting l this conference, and the current book is an update to that important work.

Peptide synthesis has emerged as one of the most powerful tools in biochemical, pharmacological, immunological, and biophysical la- ratories. Recent improvements include general solid-phase method- ogy, new protecting groups, and automated equipment. These advances have allowed the facile synthesis of increasingly more complex p- tides. Many of these new and improved methods for the synthesis of peptides and peptide-related substances have been reported in various publications, but never compiled in a convenient handbook. Like other volumes in this series, Peptide Synthesis Protocols concentrates on the practical aspects of these procedures, providing the researcher with detailed descriptions and helpful tips about potential problems. This volume is not intended to serve as a basic guide to standard Merrifie- type solid-phase strategy, but rather to provide the researcher with some of the most recent applications in the field of peptide science. A c- panion volume, Peptide Analysis Protocols, will detail methodology for the charaterization of new synthetic peptides. Development of new methods and applications has continued actively even as this volume was in preparation. Owing to the number of contributors to this volume, it was necessary to establish a cutoff for publication purposes. We feel that all of the protocols presented are timely and up-to-date. Several promising new strategies, such as allyloxycarbonyl-based syntheses, were being developed at the time this volume was in the editing stages and will be included in future editions.