Miller MA, Sletten EM. Perfluorocarbons in Chemical Biology.
Chembiochem 2020;
21:3451-3462. [PMID:
32628804 PMCID:
PMC7736518 DOI:
10.1002/cbic.202000297]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorocarbons, saturated carbon chains in which all the hydrogen atoms are replaced with fluorine, form a separate phase from both organic and aqueous solutions. Though perfluorinated compounds are not found in living systems, they can be used to modify biomolecules to confer orthogonal behavior within natural systems, such as improved stability, engineered assembly, and cell-permeability. Perfluorinated groups also provide handles for purification, mass spectrometry, and 19 F NMR studies in complex environments. Herein, we describe how the unique properties of perfluorocarbons have been employed to understand and manipulate biological systems.
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