Kondrat'eva ligation: Diels-Alder-based irreversible reaction for bioconjugation

J Org Chem. 2014 Nov 7;79(21):10353-66. doi: 10.1021/jo501972m. Epub 2014 Oct 27.

Abstract

Diversification of existing chemoselective ligations is required to efficiently access complex and well-defined biomolecular assemblies with unique and valuable properties. The development and bioconjugation applications of a novel Diels-Alder-based irreversible site-specific ligation are reported. The strategy is based on a Kondrat'eva cycloaddition between bioinert and readily functionalizable 5-alkoxyoxazoles and maleimides that readily react together under mild and easily tunable reaction conditions to afford a fully stable pyridine scaffold. The potential of this novel bioconjugation is demonstrated through the preparation of fluorescent conjugates of biomolecules and a novel Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based probe suitable for the in vivo detection and imaging of urokinase-like plasminogen activator (uPA), which is a key protease involved in cancer invasion and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Oxazoles / chemistry*
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Oxazoles
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator