The prevalence of bioconjugates in the biomedical sciences necessitates the development of novel mechanisms to facilitate their preparation. Towards this end, the translation of the Glaser-Hay coupling to an aqueous environment is examined, and its potential as a bioorthogonal conjugation reaction is demonstrated. This optimized, novel, and aqueous Glaser-Hay reaction is applied towards the development of bioconjugates utilizing protein expressed with an alkynyl unnatural amino acid. Unnatural amino acid technology provides a degree of bioorthognality and specificity not feasible with other methods. Moreover, the scope of the reaction is demonstrated through protein-small molecule couplings, small-molecule-solid-support couplings, and protein-solid-support immobilizations.
Keywords: Glaser-Hay; alkynes; bioconjugation; solid supports; unnatural amino acids.
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