Protein Conjugates and Bioconjugate Chemistry

Dear Colleagues,

The modification or conjugation of proteins, DNAs, and other biopolymers with functional molecules has become a very powerful research tool in biological science, biomedical research, and biotechnology. In particular, in the current post genomic era, much research requires chemically modified proteins or protein-bioconjugates that are impossible to prepare by standard ribosomal synthesis. In addition to the applications to research tools, there are a growing number of commercial applications of these modified biomolecules, including DNA sequencing, gene SNP analysis, clinical immunoassays, PEGylation of pharmaceutical proteins and so on.

Various techniques to precisely (site specifically) modify proteins with diverse natural and unnatural functionalities have been developed in the last two decades. These methods range from classical bioconjugation reactions to more sophisticated approaches such as the biomimetic transamination reaction, affinity-based protein surface labeling, peptide-/protein-tag fusions, and nonsense suppression mutagenesis.  Protein ligation is another powerful protein engineering technique, which allows fully unprotected synthetic and recombinant polypeptides to be regioselectively joined together to build up a target protein molecule. To date, several chemical and enzymatic peptide ligation methods have been reported.

This volume invites original contributions on all aspects of conjugation chemistry and biochemistry, including the preparation, characterization, and chemical and biological properties of molecular conjugates such as antibodies, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, or other biologically active molecules with any molecular groups that add useful properties (fluorophores, enzymes, drugs, toxins, ligands, etc.). The critical reviews covering both fundamental and applied aspects of this exciting field are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Teruyuki Nagamune
Guest Editor

• biomolecular conjugates
• bioconjugation chemistry
• chemical ligation
• protein ligation
• site-specific chemical and enzymatic modification
• PEGylation