Enzymatic manipulation of protecting groups: more than deprotection.

Recent developments in the enzymatic manipulation of protecting groups are reviewed. The application of enzymes opens new alternatives in the methodics of peptide synthesis. The following topics are dealt with: 1. New combinations of protecting groups 2. Simultaneous deprotections 3. Enzymatic regiospecificity versus chemical selectivity 4. Racemization control and enantioselective deprotection 5. N- and O-glycosylated amino acid and peptide derivatives.