ABSTRACT
Here we present a procedure to label peptides with the positron-emitting radioisotope fluorine-18 ((18)F) using the silicon-fluoride acceptor (SiFA) labeling methodology. Positron emission tomography (PET) has gained high importance in noninvasive imaging of various diseases over the past decades, and thus new specific imaging probes for PET imaging, especially those labeled with (18)F, because of the advantageous properties of this nuclide, are highly sought after. N-terminally SiFA-modified peptides can be labeled with (18)F(-) in one step at room temperature (20-25 °C) or below without forming side products, thereby producing satisfactory radiochemical yields of 46 ± 1.5% (n = 10). The degree of chemoselectivity of the (18)F-introduction, which is based on simple isotopic exchange, allows for a facile cartridge-based purification fully devoid of HPLC implementation, thereby yielding peptides with specific activities between 44.4 and 62.9 GBq µmol(-1) (1,200-1,700 Ci mmol(-1)) within 25 min.
Subject(s)
Fluorine Radioisotopes , Isotope Labeling/methods , Peptides/analysis , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Organosilicon Compounds/analysis , Organosilicon Compounds/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , TemperatureABSTRACT
N-Succinimidyl 3-(di-tert-butyl[(18)F]fluorosilyl)benzoate ([(18)F]SiFB) is a highly reactive prosthetic group for radiolabeling of proteins for use in positron emission tomography (PET). It is similar to N-succinimidyl-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoate ([(18)F]SFB), the 'gold-standard' prosthetic group for protein (18)F-labeling, but can be synthesized using a much shorter and technically easier procedure. A recently reported simple procedure to obtain anhydrous (18)F- by avoiding time-consuming azeotropic drying is applied with a slight modification to prevent basic hydrolysis of the active N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester moiety of [(18)F]SiFB. The labeling of [(18)F]SiFB is performed by a fast (18)F-(19)F isotopic exchange (IE) reaction at room temperature (20-25 °C) within 30 min. [(18)F]SiFB is purified using a C18 cartridge instead of HPLC, further decreasing the overall time required for protein labeling. High specific activities > 18.5 GBq µmol(-1) (> 500 Ci mmol(-1)) can be obtained. Finally, incubation of [(18)F]SiFB with the desired protein in an aqueous solution at pH 9, followed by HPLC purification, provides the final solution of the labeled protein ready for in vivo applications.
Subject(s)
Isotope Labeling/methods , Organosilicon Compounds/chemical synthesis , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Succinimides/chemical synthesis , Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/chemistry , Halogenation , Oxalic Acid/chemistry , Proteins/analysis , Proteins/chemistryABSTRACT
Proteins previously derivatized with the cross-coupling reagent sulfo-SMCC (4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid 3-sulfo-N-hydroxy-succinimide ester sodium salt) can be easily labeled in high radiochemical yields with the silicon-fluoride acceptor (SiFA) reagent [(18)F]SiFA-SH, obtained via isotopic exchange, by thiol-maleimide coupling chemistry (n = 10). The specific activity of SiFA-SH obtained in a one-step labeling reaction was > 18.5 GBq µmol(-1) (> 500 Ci mmol(-1)). The number of SiFA building blocks per protein molecule is defined by the previously introduced number of maleimide groups, which can be determined by a simple and convenient Ellman's assay. Not more than two maleimide groups are introduced using sulfo-SMCC, thereby keeping the modification of the protein low and preserving its biological activity.
