• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.244-251
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• 2001

Over half of all biologically active peptide and peptide hormones are $\alpha$-amidated at their C-terminus, which is essential for their full biological activities. Amidation is accomplished through the sequential reaction of the two enzymes encoded by the single bifunctional, peptidyl-glycine $\alpha$-amidating monooxygenase (PAM or an $\alpha$-amidating enzyme). PAM catalyze the forma - tion of a peptide amide from peptide precursors that include a C-terminal glycine, and requires copper molecular oxygen and ascorbate. PAM is the only enzyme that produces peptide amides in vivo. However various strategies utilizing PAM, carboxypeptidase-Y enzymes, and chemical syn-thesis have been developed for producing peptide amides in vitro. The growing need and impor-tance of peptide amide drugs has highlighted the necessity for a efficient in vitro amidating sys-tem for industrial application for the production of peptide hormones, like calcitonin and oxytocin. This review presents the current situation regarding amidation with a special emphasis on the in-dustrial production or peptide hormones.