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Analytics · Impurities & related substances · continued

Named, unnamed and unspecified impurities as regulatory categories — the long version posts 61–90

This is a continuation of a long topic, addressed by post number rather than by page. Start at post 1.

MA
m.adebayoTL2 Moderator9 Jul 2026#61
ma.nascimento, post #59: Residual solvents: traces of solvents used in purification. These are usually tested by gas chromatography, not by HPLC. A specification for residual solvents should be stated separately from the purity. Go to post

Practical note that does not fit anywhere else. Whatever you conclude from this topic, write down what you did and when. The single most useful thing in your own records is not any individual result; it is that they are dated and consecutive.

9 likes in reply to #59 19d
VD
vial_deskTL3Regular9 Jul 2026#62

This follows post #59 rather than contradicting it.

Dimer and higher-order multimers: two or more peptide molecules bonded together. They appear at double the mass and higher. They may or may not separate from the monomer on HPLC depending on the method.

2 likes 19d
AE
a.eriksenTL2 Moderator10 Jul 2026#63

Aggregates: multiples of the monomer mass. May not elute at all under a standard reversed-phase method. A species that does not come off the column does not appear in the area percentage.

0 likes 18d
RA
r.arbuthnotTL1Member10 Jul 2026#64

Off-target structures: if the sequence synthesis goes wrong, a completely different amino acid can be incorporated. The resulting off-target peptide is a structural isomer with the same mass but a different sequence. No chromatographic purity method detects this without a reference standard.

20 likes 18d
CS
c.serranoTL2 Moderator10 Jul 2026#65
k.redgrave, post #56: Aggregates: multiples of the monomer mass. May not elute at all under a standard reversed-phase method. A species that does not come off the column does not appear in the area percentage. Go to post

Related substances: compounds chemically related to the target peptide but not the target peptide itself. The standard method separates them and reports them as area percent. How related they can be before they exceed specification is a regulatory question.

5 likes in reply to #56 18d
TN
t.nardoneTL3Regular11 Jul 2026 · edited#66

Disulfide formation: if a peptide contains cysteine, it can form disulfide bonds with itself or with other molecules. Under oxidising conditions multiple species appear. Reducing conditions (like DTT) convert them back.

0 likes 17d
NA
n.achebeTL2 Moderator11 Jul 2026#67

On post #63 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

Truncation products: fragments from incomplete synthesis or from degradation. They elute quite differently from the intact peptide because they are much smaller and have different hydrophobicity. They are usually well separated.

29 likes 17d
JV
j.vandermolenTL3Regular11 Jul 2026#68

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.

14 likes 17d
BC
b.correiaTL2 Moderator12 Jul 2026#69

Deamidation at asparagine and glutamine: adds 1 approximately. Frequently appears as a close-eluting pair. It is a chemical modification that occurs during storage.

2 likes 16d
BS
buffer_shiftTL1Member12 Jul 2026#70
g.radich, post #38: Coming back to post #36, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer. Acetate content: counter-ion content. Trifluoroacetate or acetate from the salt form of the peptide. Affects mass calculations and should be stated on a complete certificate. Go to post

Oxidation at methionine and tryptophan: adds 16 per oxygen. Usually elutes earlier. Oxidation is common in storage, especially if the solution is exposed to light or if antioxidants are not present.

0 likes in reply to #38 16d
K
KStephanopoulosTL3Regular12 Jul 2026#71
bac_water, post #8: Oxidation at methionine and tryptophan: adds 16 per oxygen. Usually elutes earlier. Oxidation is common in storage, especially if the solution is exposed to light or if antioxidants are not present. Go to post

post #70 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.

Incomplete deprotection: mass higher by the protecting group mass. Usually markedly later eluting. A synthesis artifact from incomplete removal of protecting groups.

0 likes in reply to #8 16d
SV
s.vogelTL2 Moderator13 Jul 2026#72

Deletion sequences (incomplete coupling during synthesis): lower in mass by one residue. Chromatographically they usually elute earlier or later depending on the residue's hydrophobicity. They are the most common impurity in solid-phase synthesis.

4 likes 15d
I
IsaksenTL3Regular13 Jul 2026#73

Oxidation at methionine and tryptophan: adds 16 per oxygen. Usually elutes earlier. Oxidation is common in storage, especially if the solution is exposed to light or if antioxidants are not present.

18 likes 15d
TB
t.batistaTL2 Moderator13 Jul 2026 · edited#74

Coming back to post #72, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

0 likes 15d
IT
impurity_tableTL3Analytical chemist14 Jul 2026#75
t.batista, post #74: Coming back to post #72, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer. Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing. The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough. Go to post

post #74 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.

Related substances: compounds chemically related to the target peptide but not the target peptide itself. The standard method separates them and reports them as area percent. How related they can be before they exceed specification is a regulatory question.

1 like in reply to #74 14d
SO
s.ostergaardTL2 Moderator14 Jul 2026#76

Worth separating two things that post #72 runs together.

Disulfide formation: if a peptide contains cysteine, it can form disulfide bonds with itself or with other molecules. Under oxidising conditions multiple species appear. Reducing conditions (like DTT) convert them back.

8 likes 14d
BV
bias_varianceTL4Biostatistician14 Jul 2026#77

Thank you for the correction. I have edited my earlier post with a note rather than silently, so the thread still makes sense to read. The error was mine and it was the kind that comes from remembering a figure instead of looking it up.

25 likes 14d
MS
m.steinerTL2 Moderator15 Jul 2026#78

Acetate content: counter-ion content. Trifluoroacetate or acetate from the salt form of the peptide. Affects mass calculations and should be stated on a complete certificate.

0 likes 13d
TV
t.vasquezTL415 Jul 2026#79
NL
n.laurentTL2 Moderator15 Jul 2026#80

Truncation products: fragments from incomplete synthesis or from degradation. They elute quite differently from the intact peptide because they are much smaller and have different hydrophobicity. They are usually well separated.

12 likes 13d
OO
orbitrap_olaTL3Mass spectrometrist16 Jul 2026#81

On post #77 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

Deletion sequences (incomplete coupling during synthesis): lower in mass by one residue. Chromatographically they usually elute earlier or later depending on the residue's hydrophobicity. They are the most common impurity in solid-phase synthesis.

33 likes 12d
NB
n.brobergTL2 Moderator16 Jul 2026#82
eire_reader, post #58: On post #54 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification. Dimer and higher-order multimers: two or more peptide molecules bonded together. They appear at double the mass and higher. They may or may not separate from the monomer on HPLC depending on the method. Go to post

Thank you for the correction. I have edited my earlier post with a note rather than silently, so the thread still makes sense to read. The error was mine and it was the kind that comes from remembering a figure instead of looking it up.

17 likes in reply to #58 12d
DS
dr_seongTL3Physician16 Jul 2026#83

Off-target structures: if the sequence synthesis goes wrong, a completely different amino acid can be incorporated. The resulting off-target peptide is a structural isomer with the same mass but a different sequence. No chromatographic purity method detects this without a reference standard.

7 likes 12d
IA
i.almeidaTL2 Moderator16 Jul 2026#84

Deamidation at asparagine and glutamine: adds 1 approximately. Frequently appears as a close-eluting pair. It is a chemical modification that occurs during storage.

1 like 11d
CL
customs_ledgerTL3Regular17 Jul 2026#85

Worth separating two things that post #81 runs together.

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

24 likes 11d
RF
ro.friskTL2 Moderator17 Jul 2026 · edited#86
p.novotny, post #52: I read post #50 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite. Truncation products: fragments from incomplete synthesis or from degradation. They elute quite differently from the intact peptide because they are much smaller and have different hydrophobicity. They are usually well separated. Go to post

post #85 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.

Incomplete deprotection: mass higher by the protecting group mass. Usually markedly later eluting. A synthesis artifact from incomplete removal of protecting groups.

11 likes in reply to #52 11d
WN
w.novakTL3Regular17 Jul 2026#87

Aggregates: multiples of the monomer mass. May not elute at all under a standard reversed-phase method. A species that does not come off the column does not appear in the area percentage.

3 likes 10d
FW
f.weissTL2 Moderator18 Jul 2026#88

Residual solvents: traces of solvents used in purification. These are usually tested by gas chromatography, not by HPLC. A specification for residual solvents should be stated separately from the purity.

0 likes 10d
ST
slow_titratorTL2Regular18 Jul 2026#89
r.arbuthnot, post #64: Off-target structures: if the sequence synthesis goes wrong, a completely different amino acid can be incorporated. The resulting off-target peptide is a structural isomer with the same mass but a different sequence. No chromatographic purity method detects this without a reference standard. Go to post

Disulfide formation: if a peptide contains cysteine, it can form disulfide bonds with itself or with other molecules. Under oxidising conditions multiple species appear. Reducing conditions (like DTT) convert them back.

18 likes in reply to #64 10d
NK
n.kravchenkoTL2 Moderator18 Jul 2026#90

Related substances: compounds chemically related to the target peptide but not the target peptide itself. The standard method separates them and reports them as area percent. How related they can be before they exceed specification is a regulatory question.

7 likes 10d