Phosphorescent proteins for bio-imaging and site selective bio-conjugation of peptides and proteins with luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes.

A new bio-conjugation reaction for site selective modification of proteins and peptides with phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes has been developed; the Ir(III)-modified proteins and peptides display long emission lifetimes and large Stoke shifts that can be used for bio-imaging studies.

"Turn-on" FRET-based luminescent iridium(III) probes for the detection of cysteine and homocysteine.

"Turn-on" FRET-based luminescent probes containing iridium(III) complexes for the detection of Cys and Hcy have been designed and synthesized. The relationship between the steric bulk of the probe and the corresponding emission intensity enhancement towards detection of Cys and Hcy has been studied.

Electron-deficient alkynes as cleavable reagents for the modification of cysteine-containing peptides in aqueous medium.

An efficient method has been developed for the chemoselective cysteine modification of unprotected peptides and proteins in aqueous media through the formation of a vinyl sulfide linkage by using electron-deficient alkynes, including alkynoic amides, esters and alkynones. The terminal alkynone-modified peptides could be converted back into the unmodified peptides (81% isolated yield) by adding thiols under mild conditions. The usefulness of this thiol-assisted cleavage of the vinyl sulfide linkage in peptides has been exemplified by the enrichment of a cysteine-containing peptide (71% recovery) from a mixture of cysteine-containing and non-cysteine-containing peptides.