Mechanistic studies of a "Declick" reaction.

A kinetic analysis of a "declick" reaction is described. Compound 1, previously reported to couple an amine and a thiol (i.e. "click") under mild aqueous conditions to create 2, undergoes release of the unaltered coupling partners upon triggering with dithiothreitol (DTT). In the study reported herein various aniline derivatives possessing para-electron donating and withdrawing groups were used as the amines. UV/vis spectroscopy of the declick reaction shows time-dependent spectra lacking isosbestic points, implying a multi-step mechanism. Global data fitting using numerical integration of rate equations and singular value decomposition afforded the spectra and time-dependence of each species, as well as rate constants for each step. The kinetic analysis reveals a multi-step process with an intermediate where both thiols of DTT have added prior to expulsion of the aniline leaving group, followed by rearrangement to the final product. Hammett plots show a negative rho value on two of the steps, indicating positive charge building (i.e. reduction of a negative charge) in the step leading to the intermediate and its rate-determining breakdown. Overall, the kinetic study reported herein gives a complete mechanistic picture of the declick reaction.

Differential array sensing for cancer cell classification and novelty detection.

A series of semi-specific peptides reported in the literature to bind various epitopes on cell surfaces were used in a differential sensing array to pattern cell line identity. The peptides were conjugated to thiazole orange to act as both a fluorescence reporter and a DNA intercalator. Fluorescence data for the peptides exposed to cells, with and without exogenous double stranded DNA (dsDNA), led to chemometric fingerprints for eight cancer cell lines. In contrast to the use of structures meant to act in completely non-specific ways, the use of a limited level of specificity generated linear discriminant score plots with high dimensionality, i.e. several principle components carrying significant variance. The arrays were found to correctly classify the cell lines from 60% to 100% depending upon the cell line. Due to the high dimensionality score plots, the identification of cell lines that were not part of the training set was examined. Support vector machines were used as a novelty detection routine and showed that a cancer line not part of the original training set could be correctly identified as being novel.

Boronic Acid Mediated Coupling of Catechols and N-Hydroxylamines: A Bioorthogonal Reaction to Label Peptides.

An irreversible, three-component assembly with 2-formylphenylboronic acid, catechol, and N-hydroxylamines was achieved in aqueous media. The boronate ester product was formed with substituted catechols including l-DOPA. Assembly was found to be orthogonal to common biological functional groups and both copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition and aminoether/carbonyl condensations. Boronate ester formation and aminoether condensation were achieved in one pot with a hexameric peptide.