Dendrimers and combinatorial chemistry—tools for fluorescent enhancement in protease assays

A fluorogenic peptide-based smartprobe for the detection of neutrophil extracellular traps and inflammation

A highly specific, fluorogenic probe detects human neutrophil elastase (hNE) in activated neutrophils and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs).

In situ identification of Gram-negative bacteria in human lungs using a topical fluorescent peptide targeting lipid A

Respiratory infections in mechanically ventilated patients caused by Gram-negative bacteria are a major cause of morbidity. Rapid and unequivocal determination of the presence, localization, and abundance of bacteria is critical for positive resolution of the infections and could be used for patient stratification and for monitoring treatment efficacy. Here, we developed an in situ approach to visualize Gram-negative bacterial species and cellular infiltrates in distal human lungs in real time. We used optical endomicroscopy to visualize a water-soluble optical imaging probe based on the antimicrobial peptide polymyxin conjugated to an environmentally sensitive fluorophore. The probe was chemically stable and nontoxic and, after in-human intrapulmonary microdosing, enabled the specific detection of Gram-negative bacteria in distal human airways and alveoli within minutes. The results suggest that pulmonary molecular imaging using a topically administered fluorescent probe targeting bacterial lipid A is safe and practical, enabling rapid in situ identification of Gram-negative bacteria in humans.

Use of a Branched Linker for Enhanced Biosensing Properties in IgG Detection from Mixed Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Cultures

Tris(2-aminoethyl)-amine (TREN), a branched amine, was coupled to planar surfaces of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to increase the grafting density of IgG-binding peptide (HWRGWV or HWRGWVG) on gold surfaces. One of the three primary amine pendant groups of TREN anchors onto the SAM, while the other two are available for grafting with the C-termini of the peptide. The ellipsometric peptide density on the SAM-branched amine was 1.24 molecules nm^-2. The surfaces carrying the peptides were investigated via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to quantify the adsorption of IgG and showed maximum binding capacity, Q_m of 4.45 mg m^-2, and dissociation constant, K_d of 8.7 × 10^-7 M. Real-time dynamic adsorption data was used to determine adsorption rate constants, k_a values, and the values were dependent on IgG concentration. IgG binding from complex mixtures of Chinese hamster ovary supernatant (CHO) was investigated and regeneration studies were carried out. Compared to the unbranched amine-based surfaces, the branched amines increased the overall sensitivity and selectivity for IgG adsorption from complex mixtures. Regeneration of the branched amine-based surfaces was achieved with 0.1 M NaOH, with less than 10% decline in peptide activity after 12 cycles of regeneration-binding.

Efficient near infrared fluorescence detection of elastase enzyme using peptide-bound unsymmetrical squaraine dye

Extended wavelength analyte-responsive fluorescent probes are highly desired for the imaging applications owing to their deep tissue penetration, and minimum interference from autofluorescence by biomolecules. Near infra-red (NIR) sensitive and self-quenching fluorescent probe based on the dye-peptide conjugate (SQ 1 PC) was designed and synthesized by facile and efficient one-pot synthetic route for the detection of Elastase activity. In the phosphate buffer solution, there was an efficient quenching of fluorescence of SQ 1 PC (86%) assisted by pronounced dye-dye interaction due to H-aggregate formation. Efficient and fast recovery of this quenched fluorescence of SQ 1 PC (> 50% in 30s) was observed on hydrolysis of this peptide-dye conjugate by elastase enzyme. Presently designed NIR sensitive self-quenching substrate offers the potential application for the detection of diseases related to proteases by efficient and fast detection of their activities.

Novel fluorescent substrates for detection of trypsin activity and inhibitor screening by self-quenching

A group of self-quenching-based substrates with two fluorescent peptides for detection of trypsin activity was designed and synthesized. The substrates could be easily synthesized using simple solid-phase peptide synthesis techniques. Two fluorescent peptide substrates for trypsin were conjugated to the amino groups of lysine as a branched unit. The fluorescence of these substrates was self-quenched owing to the highly assembled fluorophores on the substrates. The release of these concentrated fluorophores by proteases allows for fluorescence recovery. Self-quenching reduced the fluorescence of the substrates by 64.1%, and the fluorescence intensity was recovered by the release of the fluorophores from the substrate peptides via tryptic cleavage. The kinetic assay revealed that the k_cat/K_m values of the substrates were almost comparable to those of the standard fluorescent probe, peptide-MCA. The detection limit for trypsin was 111pM, and the calculation of IC₅₀ and K_i values for the Bowman-Birk inhibitor was achieved using these substrates. These easily synthesizable self-quenching-based substrates have the potential to be useful for the detection of other disease-related protease activities.

Highly specific, multi-branched fluorescent reporters for analysis of human neutrophil elastase

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a serine protease implicated in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory disease. Here a series of, internally quenched, single fluorophore fluorescent reporters were synthesised that allowed the rapid, highly specific and sensitive analysis of HNE activity over closely related proteases.

Adaptable synthesis of C-glycosidic multivalent carbohydrates and succinamide-linked derivatization

A modular approach to the synthesis of trivalent C-glycosidic carbohydrates is described. The approach is illustrated employing carboxylate-terminated C-glycosidic d-mannose, d-glucose, and d-galactose derivatives with different length C1-linked spacer units and also core units with different length linker units attached. The central core scaffold is additionally functionalized via a succinamide-based, conjugatable linker unit, exemplified in an extended multivalent derivative [31] and a pyrene-bearing fluorsecent-labeled tris-C-mannosyl conjugate [33].

Strategies for the preparation of synthetic transfection vectors

In the late 1980s independent work by Felgner and Behr pioneered the use of cationic materials to complex and deliver nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells. Since this time, a vast number of synthetic transfection vectors, which are typically divided into two main "transfectors", have been developed namely: (1) cationic lipids and (2) polycationic polymers. In this chapter the main synthetic approaches used for the synthesis of these compounds will be reviewed with particular attention paid to: cationic lipids and dendrimers. This review is aimed primarily at the younger audience of doctoral students and non-specialist readers.

Aminopropargyl derivative of terpyridine-bis(methyl-enamine) tetraacetic acid chelate of europium (Eu (TMT)-AP3): a new reagent for fluorescent labelling of proteins and peptides

The synthesis and photophysical properties of a new terpyridine-based europium(III) chelate (Eu (TMT)-AP3) designed for peptide and protein labelling in aqueous solution phase is described. In order to obtain a stable, easy to handle, versatile and efficient labelling agent, a reactive aminopropargyl arm has been introduced onto the terpyridine moiety. As preliminary biochemical applications the chelate has been 1) efficiently covalently attached onto a representative biomolecule-monoclonal antibody-and 2) converted into iodoacetamido and aldehyde derivatives, and the photoluminescent Eu (TMT)-AP3 was grafted onto cysteine and lysine amino acid residues respectively. These two different solution phase labelling methods yielded original fluorogenic FRET based probes suitable for "in vitro" detection of caspase-3 protease, a key mediator of apoptosis of mammalian cells.