This volume contains the proceedings of the Second International Peptide Symposium and the Seventeenth American Peptide Symposium, held on 9-14 June, 2001, at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, California. The biennial meeting was held under the auspices of the American Peptide Society. In addition to the main Symposium, we were honored to have the Merrifield Satellite Symposium, honoring Bruce Merrifield's accomplishments on his 80th birthday. Over 1250 participants from around the world attended the lectures, posters, and exhibits. Reflecting the international nature of the Symposium, there were participants from 37 countries in attendance. In addition to the 75 plenary lectures, there were over 575 poster presentations, and 70 commercial exhibits as well as booths from the American, Australian, Chinese, European, and Japanese Peptide Societies. These proceedings include plenary lectures and oral and poster presentations collected from a wide diversity of topics providing a truly comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the field of peptide science. This publication contains essential reference information for researchers active in peptide science.

This volume contains the proceedings of the Second International Peptide Symposium and the Seventeenth American Peptide Symposium, held on 9-14 June, 2001, at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, California. The biennial meeting was held under the auspices of the American Peptide Society. In addition to the main Symposium, we were honored to have the Merrifield Satellite Symposium, honoring Bruce Merrifield's accomplishments on his 80th birthday. Over 1250 participants from around the world attended the lectures, posters, and exhibits. Reflecting the international nature of the Symposium, there were participants from 37 countries in attendance. In addition to the 75 plenary lectures, there were over 575 poster presentations, and 70 commercial exhibits as well as booths from the American, Australian, Chinese, European, and Japanese Peptide Societies. These proceedings include plenary lectures and oral and poster presentations collected from a wide diversity of topics providing a truly comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the field of peptide science. This publication contains essential reference information for researchers active in peptide science.

“Have you tried peptides? Small proteins, the best in the land! Won’t you try peptides? Keep all your body processes in hand! For labor and lactation oxytocin you must buy! Enkephalin always gives a good runner’s high! So won’t you try peptides? Small proteins, the best in the land!” The above words [1], penned by Gary Gisselman to open Peptide Ångst: La Triviata, the opera which made its world premiere on July 1, 1999, also serve as a fitting charge to the th 16 American Peptide Symposium. This latest edition of a premier biennial series was held under the auspices of the American Peptide Society, June 26–July 1, 1999, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis,Minnesota, with the undersigned serving as Co-Chairs. The fortunate coincidence of the calendar allowed us to set as the theme “Peptides for the New Millennium”, and in our judgment, the approximately 1200 participants [2] who converged in the Twin Cities from academic and industrial institutions in 36 countries were treated to an exciting and stimulating conference that left most everyone with an enthusiastic vision for the future of our field. The present Proceedings volume should serve as a handy reference source and succinct snapshot of peptide science at essentially its century mark – the clock having started with the initial contributions of Emil Fischer and Th. Curtius.

In an ever-increasing domain of activity, Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins provides an annual compilation of the world's research effort into this important area of biological chemistry. Volume 34 provides a review of literature published during 2001. Comprising a comprehensive review of significant developments at this biology/chemistry interface, each volume opens with an overview of amino acids and their applications. Work on peptides is reviewed over several chapters, ranging from current trends in their synthesis and conformational and structural analysis, to peptidomimetics and the discovery of peptide-related molecules in nature. The application of advanced techniques in structural elucidation is incorporated into all chapters, whilst periodic chapters on metal complexes of amino acids, peptides and beta-lactams extend the scope of coverage. Efficient searching of specialist topics is facilitated by the sub-division of chapters into discrete subject areas, allowing annual trends to be monitored. All researchers in the pharmaceutical and allied industries, and at the biology/chemistry interface in academia will find this an indispensable reference source. Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.

The American Peptide Society (APS) provides a forum for advancing and promoting knowledge of the chemistry and biology of peptides. The approximately one thousand members of the Society come from North America and from more than thirty other countries throughout the world. Establishment of the APS was a result of the rapid worldwide growth that has occurred in peptide-related research, and of the increasing interaction of peptide scientists with virtually all fields of science. Peptides for Youth: The Proceedings of the the 20th American Peptide Symposium will highlight many of the recent developments in peptide science, with a particular emphasis on how these advances are being applied to basic problems in biology and medicine. The 20th American Peptide Symposium will take place June 26 - 30, 2007 in Montreal, Canada.