Advantages:
- Superior Technical Support: Assists client from design to delivery
- High success rate: More than 95%, far higher than the competitors.
- Full Spectrum of Modification and Activation Services: Fluorescent dyes, non-fluorescent dyes, redox, nanoparticles, enzymes, custom-made and user supplied small drug compounds.
- Flexible Technologies: Employing solid and liquid phases, as well as microwave technologies.
- Optimized Chemistries: Expertise with hundreds of cross-linking modifications, activation and/or conjugation techniques using reactive cross linkers
- Guaranteed Quality: All samples are carefully monitored for stability and characterized to ensure batch to batch consistency.
Standard Biomolecule Conjugation Service: BIOCON30000
Price:
Price varies based on the project specifications. Listed price is for reference only. Our service includes materials and labor for conjugation only! Price does not include the cost of biopolymer synthesis and, if deemed necessary, biopolymer modification introducing additional functional groups, extra linkers and/or spacers. Please contact us for a quote.
Chemistry:
Typical conjugation reactions adapted in our laboratory are amide bond formations through preactivated carboxylate, such as NHS ester or carbodiimide DCC with amine, thioether formation through maleimide/alkyl halide with sulfhydryl, hydrazone/oxime formation through both ketone/aldehyde and hydrazine/aminoxy and reductive amination to conjugate aldehydes and amines. Other less common bioconjugation reactions have a highly chemoselective nature such as, cycloaddition reaction, click chemistry (Cu(I)-promoted azide-alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition), the Diels–Alder reactions and photochemical reactions involving azides, diazirine derivatives and psoralen compounds.
Some commonly used cross-linking reagents include:
- Glutaraldehyde - links carrier molecules to N-terminus of peptide
- Carbodiimide (EDC) - attaches carrier to C-terminus of peptide
- Succinimide esters (e.g. MBS, SMCC) - binds free amino group and Cys residues
- Benzidine (BDB)- links to Tyr residues
- Periodate - attaches to carbohydrate groups
- Bioconjugate chemistry may occur through the C- and N-terminals of each polypeptide chain, the carboxylate groups of aspartic and glutamic acids, the ϵ-amine of lysine, the guanidino group of arginine, the sulfhydryl group of cysteine, the phenolate ring of tyrosine, the indole ring of tryptophan, the thioether of methionine, and the imidazole ring of histidine.
Service Specification:
After standard desalting or purification, a small percent of heterogeneous products containing single or multi-site conjugate per molecule may exist.
Material:
- Biopolymers
- Monomers: Amino acids, nucleotides, sugars
- Protein: Enzyme, antibodies, antigens, cell adhesion molecules
- Peptides: Synthetic polypeptides
- Saccharides: Sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides
- Lipids: Fatty acids, phospholipids, glycolipids and any fat-like substances.
- Ligands: Hormone receptors, cell surface receptors, avidin and biotin, small molecules
- Hapten: KLH, BSA, 2 4-dinitorphenyl hapten, toxin, DNA conjugations
- Labels: Fluorescent dyes, infrared-absorbing and UV-Vis absorption chromophores, nonradioactive labels
- Nucleic acids and nucleotides: DNA, RNA, PNA, nucleic acid analogs and genomic DNA
- Synthetic polymers: PEG, dextran, Nanoparticles, gold particles, dendrimers, dendron, PAMAM
- Others: Conjugated or mixtures of any the above
- Solid Supports: agarose, glass plates, membrane, beads
Procedure:
All custom synthesis of biomolecules, modification or bioconjugation services are manufactured under strict quality control processes. Analytical HPLC and MS analyses are performed in every development cycle. Final target conjugates must first be isolated from excess or unreacted reagents. In many cases, simple dialysis may suffice to remove unreacted reagents from the reaction solution. Depending on the project scope, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) or HPLC may also be used to either remove excess reagents or isolate and characterize the cross-linked product. The Cross-linked target molecule may then be further characterized by biochemical or biophysical techniques. Once the product has been purified, it may be subject to various characterization methods including spectrometric (MALDI-TOF, ESI, LC-MS), fluorescence, electrophoresis as well as immunochemical, biochemical and enzymatic analysis. QC (quality control) and QA (quality assurance) procedures are also followed independently to ensure the highest quality possible of every delivered conjugate. Moreover, our dedicated technical account managers will guide your project through every step of the process and keep you informed of the latest progress.
Delivery Specifications:
The typical delivery consists of lyophilized sample in individual fully labeled vials. The shipment also contains COA, MS, HPLC and/or other analytical data. Additional analytical data is also available upon request.
Small molecule labeling generally refers to any form of cross-linking or modification whose purpose is to attach a chemical group (e.g. fluorescent and chemi-luminescent compound, redox labels, biotin, haptens, nanoparticles or user supplied compound having target functional group). The chemical groups can be conjugated with target molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and other biomolecules through single, bifunctional or heterofunctional cross-linkers to aid in detection.
Choosing the correct cross-linking chemistry sometimes appears overwhelming as it requires a careful understanding of target molecule structure and reactivity. These cross-linking and modifying agents can be applied to alter the native state and function of peptides and protein, sugars and polysaccharides, nucleic acids and oligonucleotides, lipids and almost any other imaginable molecule chemically derivatized. Therefore, each conjugation project assigned to Bio-Synthesis is carefully designed.
Bio-Synthesis not only offers synthesis of small molecules and biopolymers, but assists in the functionalization or activation of compounds ready to cross-link with pre-activated small molecules either supplied by customers or prepared in-house. These pre-activated small molecules can be created with an amine, acid, hydrazine, aldehyde/ketone, hydroxylamine, maleimide/alkylhalide and sulfhydryl functional group in a polymer. After labeling of biopolymer with small molecules, a standard desalting, purification, quality check and final concentration and labeling ratio are determined.
Sample Requirements
Non-commercial small molecule supplied by customer
User-supplied, non-commercial small or macromolecule should be sufficiently pure (≥95% pure). Please provide the QC data (typically HPLC, MS, ESI or NMR data etc.) and MSDS (if any) along with your compound. We can assist with the purification and acquisition of analytical data. These compounds must contain functional groups that can be targeted for cross-linking including carboxylate groups, primary amine groups, aldehyde/ketone residues, hydroxyl, hydrazine, hydrazide, aminoxy, saccharide /glycan groups or thiol reactive functional group(s). Coupling can also be non-selective using a photoreactive phenyl azide cross-linker. If necessary, we can also assist with the creation and activation of specific functionalities. Any sample supplied by the client requires a quality check by our analytical team prior to conjugation.
Commercially available small molecules
Commercially available small molecules can be supplied by customers or ordered through Bio-Synthesis. Common small molecules such as common fluorescent dyes, biotin-NHS and other hetero-bifunctional cross-linkers are available at Bio-Synthesis. For in-stock compounds, Bio-Synthesis will charge customers only the amount needed for conjugation. If the small molecules are to be purchased separately, the cost of acquiring this material will be added to the invoice along with a $50 administration charge per order.
Non-commercially available small molecules
We can custom synthesize small molecules either in house. A quotation will be prepared for such syntheses.
Oligonucleotide, oligomimetics, and custom gene or genomic DNA
Oligos or custom genes such as DNA or RNA can be synthesized in-house at Bio-Synthesis and conjugated through amino, thiol, or 5'-phosphate modification. Oligos supplied by the customer should be HPLC or gel purified (>90% pure). Please provide the QC data needed for purity assessment. Extra charges may apply for analyzing the starting materials at Bio-Synthesis.
Peptides, peptidomimetics, and expressed protein
Peptides and proteins can be synthesized or expressed in-house at Bio-Synthesis. We label or conjugate peptides through N-terminal, C-terminal or internal side chain of an amino acids. Peptides supplied by the customer should be HPLC purified (>90% pure) and should contain a single modification site. We can make any standard peptide with functional groups incorporated through peptide synthesis. Please provide the peptide sequence of the desired peptide on the order form.
Antibodies
Commercial antibodies can be supplied by customers or ordered through Bio-Synthesis with an additional fee plus the cost of the antibody. Non-commercial biopolymers supplied by customers should be affinity purified. Please provide gel electrophoresis data along with your antibody. Bio-Synthesis also assists customer with antibody production, purification, modification and fragmentation prior to any cross-linking reaction.
Functional target modification services
We offer post-synthetic modification of ligands to be immobilized on various solid supports, allowing the immobilization process to occur selectively in the presence of common functional groups, including amines, thiols, carboxylic acids and alcohols. Bio-Synthesis offers functional group modification and derivatization:
- Amino acid, peptides and protein modification
- Modification of sugars, polysaccharides and glycoconjugates
- Modification of nucleic acids and oligonucleotides
- Creating specific functionalities such as sulfhydryl, carboxylate, primary amine, aldehyde/ketone, hydrazine or hydrazide, saccharide and glycan groups
- Blocking functional group such as amine, sulfhydryl, aldehyde or carboxylate group
See more information on Biomolecule Modification
Chemistry of Reactive Group used
Every chemical modification or conjugation process involves the reaction of one functional group with another, resulting in the formation of a covalent bond. The creation of bioconjugate reagents with spontaneously reactive, or selectively reactive functional groups, forms the basis for simple and reproducible cross-linking or tagging of target molecules. Our well-trained chemists assist clients from starting project scope collections to design, and determining appropriate homobifunctional or heterobifunctional cross-linking chemistries. We have delivered thousands of custom conjugated biopolymers and are fully capable of meeting the ever-increasing bioconjugation needs in biological and drug discovery research. Hundreds of reaction systems have been applied in our organic laboratories.
- Amine Reaction: NHS ester, imidoester, hydroxymethyl phosphine, guanidination of amine, fluorophenyl esters, carbodiimides, anhydrides, arylating agents, carbonates, aldehydes and glyoxals
- Thiol Reactions: Maleimide, Haloacetyl, Pyridyldisulfide, Vinyl sulfone, Thiol-disulfide exchange
- Carboxylate reactions: Carbodiimides
- Hydroxyl Reactions: Isocyanates, enzymatic oxidation, Carbonyldiimidazole
- Aldehyde and Ketone Reaction: Hydrazine derivative, Schiff Base formation, reductive amination
- Active Hydrogen Reaction: Iodination reaction
- Photo-chemical Reactions: Psoralen compounds, aryl azides and halogenated aryl azides, bensophenones, anthraquinones
- Cycloaddition Reaction: Chemoselective ligation such as Click chemistry, Diels-Alder reaction
Custom synthesized biopolymers such as peptides and oligonucleotides from Bio-Synthesis are manufactured under strict high level quality control processes. We use the efficient method of mass spectrometry (MS) for all single custom peptides, oligonucleotides and purified biopolymers. We also analyze by RP-HPLC and other quality check methods available upon request.
Bio-Synthesis is committed to Total Quality Management (TQM) to assure complete satisfaction. MS and HPLC analyses are performed following the completion of biopolymer synthesis, purification and QC (quality control). QA (quality assurance) procedures are also followed independently to double guarantee the quality of every delivered peptide. Bio-Synthesis's Total Quality Management System (TQM) has been successfully upgraded to fully comply with ISO 9001:2008 regulations.
Case Study:
Project: DNA-Peptide Conjugation
MW: 5983.23
Ordering and Submitting Requests for Bioconjugation Services
For us to better understand your customized project, please complete our Bioconjugation Service Questionnaire. The more our chemists understand your project’s needs, the more accurate your provided feedback will be. Providing us with your project’s details enables us to recommend the best reagents to use for your project. The most useful and readily available tools for bioconjugation projects are cross-linking reagents. A large number of cross-linkers, also known as bifunctional reagents, have been developed. There are several ways to classify the cross-linkers, such as the type of reactive group, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity and the length of the spacer between reactive groups. Other factors to consider are whether the two reactive groups are the same or different (i.e. heterobifunctional or homobifunctional reagents), spacer is cleavable and if reagents are membrane permeable or impermeable. The most accessible and abundant reactive groups in proteins are the ϵ-amino groups of lysine. Therefore, a large number of the most common cross-linkers are amino selective reagents, such as imidoesters, sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide esters and N-hydroxysuccinimide esters. Due to the high reactivity of the thiol group with N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetate and a-halocarbonyl compounds, new cross-linkers have been developed containing maleimide and a-carbonyl moieties. Usually, N-alkylmaleimides are more stable than their N-aryl counterparts.
In addition to the reactive groups on the cross-linkers, a wide variety of connectors and spacer arms have also been developed. The nature and length of the spacer arm play an important role in the functionality. Longer spacer arms are generally more effective when coupling large proteins or those with sterically protected reactive side-chains. Other important considerations are the hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity and the conformational flexibility. Long aliphatic chains generally fold on themselves when in an aqueous environment, making the actual distance spanned by such linker arms less than expected. Instead, spacers containing more rigid structures (for example, aromatic groups or cycloalkanes) should be used. These structures, however, tend to be very hydrophobic which could significantly decrease the solubility of the modified molecules or even modify some of their properties. In such cases, it is recommended to choose a spacer that contains an alkyl ether (PEO) chain. Bio-Synthesis offers several cross-linkers with PEO chains, such as thiol-binding homobifunctional reagents, heterobifunctional bases and their derivatives.
Within 3-5 days upon receiving your project scope, we will provide you an appropriate quotation. An order can be placed with PO (Purchase Order) or major credit cards ( 
). Your credit card will be billed under Bio-Synthesis, Inc.