Drug "Clicking" on Cell-Penetrating Fluorescent Nanoparticles for In Cellulo Chemical Proteomics

Bioconjug Chem. 2018 Sep 19;29(9):3154-3160. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00481. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Abstract

Chemical proteomics approaches are widely used to identify molecular targets of existing or novel drugs. This manuscript describes the development of a straightforward approach to conjugate azide-labeled drugs via click chemistry to alkyne-tagged cell-penetrating fluorescent nanoparticles as a novel tool to study target engagement and/or identification inside living cells. A modification of the Baeyer test for alkynes allows monitoring the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction, guaranteeing the presence of the drug on the solid support. As a proof of concept, the conjugation of the promiscuous kinase inhibitor dasatinib to Cy5-labeled nanoparticles is presented. Dasatinib-decorated fluorescent nanoparticles efficiently inhibited its protein target SRC in vitro, entered cancer cells, and colocalized with SRC in cellulo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Azides / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Membrane Permeability*
  • Click Chemistry
  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Dasatinib / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Proteomics*

Substances

  • Azides
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Dasatinib