Patent ID: 7291698
Filing Date: 2007-11-06
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A synthetic enzyme substrate, comprising: a peptide substrate moiety capable of independently serving as a substrate for a target protease that cleaves a bond between two amino acids of said peptide substrate moiety; a first and second streric restrictor group, wherein the N-terminus and C-terminus of said peptide substrate moiety are each covalently coupled to one of said steric restrictor groups, wherein said steric restrictor groups are polymers comprised of two or more non-identical D-amino acid monomers, wherein the sequences of said D-amino acid monomers of each of said steric restrictor groups are selected based upon the ability of said restrictor groups to protect said peptide substrate from serving as a substrate for non-target proteases, while preserving the ability of said peptide substrate to serve as a substrate for said target protease; wherein a first label moiety incorporated into said first steric restrictor group produces a detectable signal that is quenched by a second label moiety incorporated into said second steric restrictor group, and in which enzymatic cleavage of the peptide substrate moiety by said target protease produces a change in the detectable signal.