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Protein Labelling with Versatile Phosphorescent Metal Complexes for Live Cell Luminescence Imaging
Author(s) -
Connell Timothy U.,
James Janine. L.,
White Anthony R.,
Donnelly Paul S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201501630
Subject(s) - phosphorescence , luminescence , click chemistry , chemistry , photobleaching , bifunctional , biomolecule , metalloprotein , azide , fluorescence , cycloaddition , combinatorial chemistry , photochemistry , labelling , metal , materials science , organic chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics
To take advantage of the luminescent properties of d 6 transition metal complexes to label proteins, versatile bifunctional ligands were prepared. Ligands that contain a 1,2,3‐triazole heterocycle were synthesised using Cu I catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition “click” chemistry and were used to form phosphorescent Ir III and Ru II complexes. Their emission properties were readily tuned, by changing either the metal ion or the co‐ligands. The complexes were tethered to the metalloprotein transferrin using several conjugation strategies. The Ir III /Ru II –protein conjugates could be visualised in cancer cells using live cell imaging for extended periods without significant photobleaching. These versatile phosphorescent protein‐labelling agents could be widely applied to other proteins and biomolecules and are useful alternatives to conventional organic fluorophores for several applications.