The synthesis by conventional methods of the peptides Z-Asp-Cys-NH2, Z-Asp-Gly-Cys-NH2, Z-Glu-Gly-Cys-NH2, Z-His-Ala-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2, Z-His-Ala-Asp-Gly-Cys-NH2 and Z-His-Ala-Asp-Gly-OCH2 is described. Cystin was used for SH-protection; reduction of the disulfides was performed by mercaptoethanol. The hydrolytic activity of these peptides with p-nitrophenylacetate as substrate was compared with the activity of a number of peptides described in the literature.