WILLIAM MILLER
Broker in Sharon, MA

4701304, Oct 20, 1987

Apr 19, 1985

6/725213

Marcus J. Horn - Arlington MA
William K. Miller - Sharon MA

Applied Protein Technologies, Inc. - Cambridge MA

B01J 1400, G01N 3368

422 62

A system maintained under a constant reference pressure for the automated synthesis of peptides includes a reaction vessel that has a single port for both injection and withdrawal of the various fluids used in the peptide synthesis sequence, a plurality of reservoirs for holding the amino acids used in the synthesis of the peptide chains and a plurality of reservoirs for holding the solvents and reagents used to promote the synthesis of the peptide chains. The system also includes a volume displacement pump for removing a controlled volume of gas from the reaction vessel as the first part of each injection step to reduce the pressure within the vessel. This is followed by connection of a selected reservoir to the reaction vessel and flow from the reservoir to the vessel resulting from the pressure differential between the vessel and the reservoir. As soon as the pressure in the reaction vessel has returned to reference level, the transfer is complete. Because all parts of the system are maintained at the reference pressure, metered transfer of reagents and solvents from the reservoirs to the reaction vessel can be performed easily without using a high vacuum.