Invention for Tyrosine Bioconjugation Through Aqueous Ene-Like Reactions

Invented by Carlos F. Barbas, III, Hitoshi Ban, Julia Gavrilyuk, Scripps Research Institute

The market for tyrosine bioconjugation through aqueous ene-like reactions is experiencing significant growth and is poised to expand even further in the coming years. This emerging field of bioconjugation offers numerous opportunities for researchers and companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostic industries. Tyrosine is an amino acid found in proteins and plays a crucial role in various biological processes. Bioconjugation, the process of attaching a molecule to a biomolecule, has gained immense importance in drug discovery, targeted therapy, and diagnostics. Aqueous ene-like reactions, which involve the addition of a nucleophile to an electron-deficient alkene, have emerged as a powerful tool for tyrosine bioconjugation. One of the key advantages of aqueous ene-like reactions is their compatibility with aqueous environments, which is crucial for biological applications. Traditional bioconjugation methods often require harsh conditions or organic solvents, which can be detrimental to the stability and activity of biomolecules. Aqueous ene-like reactions overcome these limitations by enabling conjugation in water-based systems, preserving the integrity of the biomolecules and maintaining their functionality. The market for tyrosine bioconjugation through aqueous ene-like reactions is driven by several factors. Firstly, the increasing demand for targeted therapies and personalized medicine has fueled the need for efficient and specific bioconjugation techniques. Tyrosine bioconjugation allows for the precise targeting of drugs or imaging agents to specific biomarkers, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, the growing interest in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has also contributed to the market growth. ADCs are a class of bioconjugates that combine the specificity of antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic drugs. Tyrosine bioconjugation enables the site-specific attachment of drugs to antibodies, ensuring controlled drug release and minimizing off-target effects. This has led to a surge in research and development activities focused on ADCs, driving the demand for tyrosine bioconjugation techniques. Furthermore, the increasing investment in research and development by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies is propelling the market growth. These companies are actively exploring innovative bioconjugation strategies to develop novel therapeutics and diagnostics. Tyrosine bioconjugation through aqueous ene-like reactions offers a versatile and efficient approach, making it an attractive option for industry players. In terms of geographical distribution, North America currently dominates the market for tyrosine bioconjugation through aqueous ene-like reactions. The region is home to several leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as renowned research institutions, fostering a favorable ecosystem for innovation and commercialization. However, with the increasing focus on healthcare and biotechnology in emerging economies, such as China and India, the market is expected to witness significant growth in the Asia-Pacific region as well. In conclusion, the market for tyrosine bioconjugation through aqueous ene-like reactions is experiencing robust growth and presents lucrative opportunities for researchers and companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostic industries. The compatibility of aqueous ene-like reactions with biological systems, coupled with the increasing demand for targeted therapies and personalized medicine, is driving the market expansion. As research and development activities continue to flourish, the market is expected to witness further advancements and innovations in tyrosine bioconjugation techniques.

The Scripps Research Institute invention works as follows

A new class of diazodicarboxamides, which react efficiently and selectively to phenols as well as the phenolic side chains of tyrosine via an Ene-like process is described. This mild aqueous reaction for tyrosine modification works across a wide pH range. It expands the aqueous chemical repertoire available to modify small molecules, proteins, and peptides. The tyrosine-ligation reactions can be used to label native enzymes and antibody in buffered water. This reaction offers a new synthetic method for bispecific antibodies. This reaction is useful in the synthesis of proteins and peptides, as well as in the chemistry phenol-containing molecules.

Background for Tyrosine Bioconjugation Through Aqueous Ene-Like Reactions

Bioconjugation is the process of coupling two biomolecules together in a covalent linkage. Common types of bioconjugation chemistry are amine coupling of lysine amino acid residues (typically through amine-reactive succinimidyl esters), sulfhydryl coupling of cysteine residues (via a sulfhydryl-reactive maleimide), and photochemically initiated free radical reactions, which have broader reactivity. The product of a bioconjugation reaction is a bioconjugate. The most common bioconjugations are coupling of a small molecule (such as biotin or a fluorescent dye) to a protein, or protein-protein conjugations, such as the coupling of an antibody to an enzyme. Other less common molecules used in bioconjugation are oligosaccharides, nucleic acids, synthetic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (a.k.a. PEG a.k.a. polyethylene oxide) and carbon nanotubes.

Bioconjugation relies heavily on chemoselective modification native protein functional groups. The most common functionalized amino acids are lysine and cysteine. The high concentration of lysine at the surface of proteins makes it difficult to modify specific sites. Cysteines, on the other hand, are uncommon and most commonly found in disulfide-linked pairs in proteins. This amino acid is usually labeled by reducing the disulfide target followed by a reaction with a maleimide. Recent attention has focused on the bioorthogonal modifications of the aromatic amino acids side chains of tyrosine and tryptophan. The Mannich-type additions of imines to tyrosine have been studied in mild biocompatible conditions. However, these modifications are susceptible to retro-Mannich reactions. There is a need for new bioconjugation methods that modify tyrosine in proteins.

The disclosure provides a bioconjugation orthogonal strategy that is based on the modification of tyrosine in peptides or proteins. This strategy is based on the reactivity of diazodicarboxylate-related molecules and tyrosine through an efficient aqueous Ene-like reaction. This article describes a new, efficient, and versatile tyrosine-ligation reaction. It can be used to prepare small molecules, peptides, enzymes, and antibodies.

In one embodiment, the disclosure discloses compounds with Formula I:

or a salt of the same that is pharmaceutically acceptable, wherein

When “R1 and

is a single link, and both R1 andR2 are absent when

is a dual bond;

W is an independent direct bond or O

R3 can be independently hydrogen, halogen carboxyl cyano nitro amino substituted unsubstituted, unsubstituted, alkyl substituted unsubstituted, substituted unsubstituted, aryl substituted unsubstituted, substituted unsubstituted, aryloxy substituted unsubstituted, heteroaryl substituted unsubstituted, heteroaryloxy substituted unsubstit

L can be independently H, N3, C?CHN3, C6H5, CH2CH2N3, COCH3, OCH2C??CH, OCH2COCH3, OR X?[CH2CH2Y]n? (CH2)q?N3;

X and Y each independently are CH2, O or NHCO; and

n” and “q” are both independently integers from 0-12.

In another embodiment, the disclosure provides compounds with Formula IX:

or a salt of the same that is pharmaceutically acceptable, wherein

W is an independent direct bond or O

R3 can be independently hydrogen, halogen carboxyl cyano nitro amino substituted unsubstituted, unsubstituted, alkyl substituted unsubstituted, substituted unsubstituted, aryl substituted unsubstituted, substituted unsubstituted, aryloxy substituted unsubstituted, heteroaryl substituted unsubstituted, heteroaryloxy substituted unsubstit

L can be independently H, N3, C?CHN3, C6H5, CH2CH2N3, COCH3, OCH2C??CH, OCH2COCH3, OR X?[CH2CH2Y]n? (CH2)q?N3;

X and Y each independently are CH2, O or NHCO;

n and q each independently are an integer between 0 and 12; and

R6″ is a tyrosine molecule or a residue of tyrosine in a protein or a polypeptide.

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