Site-specific labelling of proteins using cyanine dye reporters

Abstract

Disclosed are compounds of formula: in which D is a dye selected from a cyanine dye or a derivative thereof; B is an affinity tag; F comprises a target bonding group selected from a carboxylic acid thioester group and a 1,2-aminothiol group; M is a group adapted for attaching to F; and L1 and L2 each independently comprise a group containing from 1 to 40 linked atoms selected from carbon atoms which may optionally include one or more groups selected from —NR′—, —O—, —CH═CH—, —CO—NH— and phenylenyl groups, where R′ is selected from hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl. The invention also relates to methods that afford direct attachment of the cyanine dye reporter group to either the N-terminus or C-terminus of a synthetic or recombinant peptide or protein, and their derivatives, in a site-specific manner, coupled with purification of the resultant labelled molecule.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.