The present invention provides a method of synthesizing an intramolecularly bridged polypeptide comprising at least one intramolecular bridge. The present invention further provides a method of synthesizing an intramolecularly bridged polypeptide comprising two intramolecular bridges, wherein the two intramolecular bridges form two overlapping ring, two rings in series, or two embedded rings. The present invention also provides methods for synthesizing lantibiotics, including Nisin A. Additionally, the invention provides intramolecularly bridged polypeptides synthesized by the methods disclosed herein and differentially protected orthogonal lanthionines.