Single-step enzymatic conversion of peptide amides to esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)00251-7

It is shown that the C-terminal amide groups in N-protected peptides could be efficiently replaced by ester groups via kinetically-controlled papain-catalyzed acyl transfer reactions in aqueous methanol. The specificity of papain was substantially shifted towards the cleavage of C-terminal amide bond in dipeptide substrates by methanol, thus suppressing undesired peptide bond cleavage during esterification.