Analysis and Optimization of Copper-Catalyzed Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition for Bioconjugation

Since its discovery in 2002, the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC)[1] reaction—the most widely recognized example of click chemistry[2]—has been rapidly embraced for applications in myriad fields.[3] The attractiveness of this procedure (and its copper-free strained-alkyne variant[4]) stems from the selective reactivity of azides and alkynes only with each other. Because of the fragile nature and low concentrations at which biomolecules are often manipulated, bioconjugation presents significant challenges for any ligation methodology. Several different CuAAC procedures have been reported to address specific cases involving peptides, proteins, polynucleotides, and fixed cells, often with excellent results,[5] but also occasionally with somewhat less satisfying outcomes.[6] We describe here a generally applicable procedure that solves the most vexing click bioconjugation problems in our laboratory, and therefore should be of use in many other situations. The CuAAC reaction requires the copper catalyst, usually prepared with an appropriate chelating ligand,[7] to be maintained in the CuI oxidation state. Several years ago we developed a system featuring a sulfonated bathophenanthroline ligand,[8] which was optimized into a useful bioconjugation protocol.[9] A significant drawback was the catalyst’s acute oxygen sensitivity, requiring air-free techniques which can be difficult to execute when an inert-atmosphere glove box is unavailable or when sensitive biomolecules are used in small volumes of aqueous solution. We also introduced an electrochemical method to generate and protect catalytically active CuI–ligand species for CuAAC bioconjugation and synthetic coupling reactions with miminal effort to exclude air.[10] Under these conditions, no hydrogen peroxide was produced in the oxygen-scrubbing process, resulting in protein conjugates that were uncontaminated with oxidative byproducts. However, this solution is also practical only for the specialist with access to the proper equipment. Other protocols have employed copper(I) sources such as CuBr for labeling fixed cells[11] and synthesizing glycoproteins.[12] In these cases, the instability of CuI in air imposes a requirement for large excesses of Cu (greater than 4 mm) and ligand for efficient reactions, which raises concerns about protein damage or precipitation, plus the presence of residual metal after purification. The most convenient CuAAC procedure involves the use of an in situ reducing agent. Sodium ascorbate is the reductant of choice for CuAAC reactions in organic and materials synthesis, but is avoided in bioconjugation with a few exceptions.[13] Copper and sodium ascorbate have been shown to be detrimental to biological[14] and synthetic[15] polymers due to copper-mediated generation of reactive oxygen species.[16] Moreover, dehydroascorbate and other ascorbate byproducts can react with lysine amine and arginine guanidine groups, leading to covalent modification and potential aggregation of proteins.[6a,17] We hoped that solutions to these problems would allow ascorbate to be used in fast and efficient CuAAC reactions using micromolar concentration of copper in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. This has now been achieved, allowing demanding reactions to be performed with biomolecules of all types by the nonspecialist. For purposes of catalyst optimization and reaction screening, the fluorogenic coumarin azide 1 developed by Wang et al. has proven to be invaluable (Scheme 1).[18] The progress of cycloaddition reactions between mid-micromolar concentrations of azide and alkyne in aqueous buffers was followed by the increase in fluorescence at 470 nm upon formation of the triazole 2. Scheme 1 Top: Reaction used for screening CuAAC catalysts and conditions. Below: Accelerating ligand 3 and additive 4 used in these studies. DMSO=dimethylsulfoxide.