Description

The chemical modification of amino acid side chains dates back over 100 years, and today a range of bioconjugation reactions are used routinely to change the properties of proteins as dictated by the application or analysis method at hand. Owing to developments in the characterization of protein bioconjugates by mass spectrometry and high- field NMR, a substantially increased set of protein modification reactions has recently become available. As we know, protein mediate virtually every cellular process. They are involved with transcription, translation, transport, cell cycle control, the determination of cell type and function, protein folding, post-translational modifications, signal transduction, metabolism and energy production, cell structure and motility, the formation of biological machines, cell and organism defense, and apoptosis. The protein bioconjugation technology allows new protein targets to be addressed, leading to advances in biological understanding, new protein-drug conjugates, targeted medical imaging agents and hybrid materials with complex functions.