Reagents and methods for phosphorylation/dephosphorylation analyses

A reagent for the detection of phosphorylated molecules, the reagent comprising:

• a linking core comprising at least one core selected from the group consisting of:
• a nanopolymer, a dendrimer molecule, and a core including an amide moiety;
• at least one moiety that includes a metal, the metal selected from the group consisting of:
• Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Fe(III), Ga(IV), Al(III), Sn(IV), Cu(II), and Zn(II);
• and
• at least one reporter group selected from the group consisting of:
• biotin, an antibody, a lectin, a thiol, a fluorescent group, a chromophore, a chemiluminescent group and a radioactive group;
• wherein the moieties that include the metal bind to phosphorylated molecules.

A method for the detection of phosphorylated molecules in a sample comprising the steps of:

• contacting a reagent with a sample selected from the group consisting:
• of cells, tissue, proteins, lipids, or combinations thereof;
• said reagent comprising:
• a linking core comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a nanopolymer, a dendrimer molecule, and a core including an amide moiety;
• a plurality of moieties that include a metal selected from the group consisting of:
• Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Fe(III), Ga(IV), Al(III), Sn(IV), Cu(II), and Zn(II);
• and at least one reporter group selected from the group consisting of:
• biotin, an antibody, a lectin, a thiol, a fluorescent group, a chromophore, a chemiluminescent group, and a radioactive group;
• wherein the moiety that include the metal binds to phosphorylated molecules, such that at least a portion of said reagent binds to a portion of the sample;
• removing at least a portion of any unbound reagent;
• and
• detecting the phosphorylated molecules in the sample by detecting the reporter groups of the reagent.

A kit for the detection of phosphorylated molecules in a sample comprising a reagent said reagent comprising:

• a linking core comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a nanopolymer, a dendrimer molecule, and a core including an amide moiety;
• a plurality of moieties that include a metal selected from the group consisting of:
• Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Fe(III), Ga(IV), Al(III), Sn(IV), Cu(II), and Zn(II);
• and at least one reporter group selected from the group consisting of:
• biotin, an antibody, a lectin, a thiol, a fluorescent group, a chromophore, a chemiluminescent group and a radioactive group;
• wherein the moiety that include the metal bind to phosphorylated molecules.