The Evolution of SNAP-Tag Labels

Biomacromolecules. 2023 Feb 13;24(2):517-530. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01238. Epub 2023 Jan 6.

Abstract

The conjugation of proteins with synthetic molecules can be conducted in many different ways. In this Perspective, we focus on tag-based techniques and specifically on the SNAP-tag technology. The SNAP-tag technology makes use of a fusion protein between a protein of interest and an enzyme tag that enables the actual conjugation reaction. The SNAP-tag is based on the O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) enzyme and is optimized to react selectively with O6-benzylguanine (BG) substrates. BG-containing dye derivatives have frequently been used to introduce a fluorescent tag to a specific protein. We believe that the site-specific conjugation of polymers to proteins can significantly benefit from the SNAP-tag technology. Especially, polymers synthesized via reversible deactivation radical polymerization allow for the facile introduction of a BG end group to enable SNAP-tag conjugation.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase* / chemistry
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase* / genetics
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase* / metabolism
  • Proteins*

Substances

  • Proteins
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase