Antibody Clicking as a Strategy to Modify Antibody Functionalities on the Surface of Targeted Cells.

We established a methodology for initiating cross-linking of antibodies selectively on the cell surface through intermolecular copper-free click reactions facilitated by increased effective concentrations of antibodies binding to target antigens. Upon cross-linking of tetrazine- and bicyclononyne-modified trastuzumab on the surface of HER2-overexpressing cells, increased antibody uptake and activation of intracellular signaling were observed. Our findings demonstrate that the cross-linking reaction can significantly alter the biophysical properties of proteins, activating their unique functionalities on targeted cells to realize an increased cargo delivery and synthetic manipulation of cellular signaling.

Triphosgene: an efficient carbonylating agent for liquid and solid-phase aza-peptide synthesis. Application to the synthesis of two aza-analogues of the AChR MIR decapeptide.

The N alpha/C alphaH exchange in aza-peptides has the advantage of preserving the side chain. Bis(trichloromethyl)carbonate or triphosgene is a solid, stable phosgene substitute which retains its high reactivity. Temperature and coupling times are greatly reduced with reference to other usually recommended carbonylating agents, while purity and yield are increased. It has been used, in both liquid- and solid-phase procedures, for the synthesis of various aza-analogues of dipeptides, tripeptides and decapeptides containing the alanine, aspartic acid and asparagine aza-residue.