Themed collection Most popular 2021 chemical biology articles
New directions of activity-based sensing for in vivo NIR imaging
In vivo imaging is a powerful approach to study biological processes.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3393-3405
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03096A
Tunable heteroaromatic azoline thioethers (HATs) for cysteine profiling
Here we report a new series of hydrolytically stable chemotype heteroaromatic azoline thioethers (HATs) to achieve highly selective, rapid, and efficient covalent labeling of cysteine under physiological conditions.
Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 763-774
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC04139H
A naphthalimide-based peptide conjugate for concurrent imaging and apoptosis induction in cancer cells by utilizing endogenous hydrogen sulfide
A hydrogen sulfide sensing naphthalimide based peptide conjugate (HSNPc) worked as a novel cancer cell imaging agent and showed selective cell apoptosis.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 16085-16091
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC04030H
An amplification-free ultra-sensitive electrochemical CRISPR/Cas biosensor for drug-resistant bacteria detection
An amplification-free electrochemical CRISPR/Cas biosensor utilizing silver metallization (termed E-Si-CRISPR) allows detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with excellent sensitivity and specificity.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 12733-12743
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC02197D
In vivo metal-catalyzed SeCT therapy by a proapoptotic peptide
The combination of a proapoptotic peptide with covalent tagging and a carrier-Ru-complex inhibited tumor growth in mice after a single injection.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 12266-12273
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01784E
A novel chemical biology and computational approach to expedite the discovery of new-generation polymyxins against life-threatening Acinetobacter baumannii
Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have been an urgent threat to global public health. Novel antibiotics are desperately needed to combat these 'superbugs'.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 12211-12220
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC03460J
Discovering protein–protein interaction stabilisers by native mass spectrometry
Stabilising protein–protein interactions is challenging, yet therapeutically important. Native mass spectrometry can be used to monitor binding equilibria, allowing identification and measurement of novel protein–protein interaction stabilisers.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 10724-10731
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01450A
Highly efficient on-DNA amide couplings promoted by micelle forming surfactants for the synthesis of DNA encoded libraries
Highly efficient forward and reverse on-DNA amide couplings were developed exploiting hydrophobic linkers in combination with the micelle forming surfactant TPGS-750M. The method is highly effective for a wide range of substrates in the synthesis of DNA-encoded libraries.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 9475-9484
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC03007H
Rapid and robust cysteine bioconjugation with vinylheteroarenes
Vinylheteroarene linkers can chemoselectively modify cysteine residues in proteins and antibodies. These linkers give stable bioconjugates, and were used to synthesise efficacious antibody-drug conjugates.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 9060-9068
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC02722K
Antimicrobial α-defensins as multi-target inhibitors against amyloid formation and microbial infection
We report a new “anti-amyloid and antimicrobial hypothesis” by discovering host-defense antimicrobial peptides of α-defensins containing β-sheet structures, which possess inhibition functions against amyloid aggregation and microbial infection.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 9124-9139
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01133B
Glycan–protein cross-linking mass spectrometry reveals sialic acid-mediated protein networks on cell surfaces
The cell surface glycocalyx is highly interactive defined by extensive covalent and non-covalent interactions. A method for cross-linking and characterizing glycan–peptide interactions in situ is developed.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 8767-8777
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00814E
Quantitative interrogation of protein co-aggregation using multi-color fluorogenic protein aggregation sensors
A little leak will sink a great ship! We prepared a series of multi-color protein aggregation sensors and developed a dual-color thermal shift assay to simultaneously and quantitatively report on protein co-aggregation of two different proteins.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 8468-8476
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01122G
Evaluation of fully-functionalized diazirine tags for chemical proteomic applications
The chemical proteomic properties of five diazirine-based, fully-functionalized photoaffinity tags, including a newly developed, minimal tag, were compared. This study provides guidance for the development of new photoaffinity probes.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 7839-7847
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01360B
Total synthesis, isolation, surfactant properties, and biological evaluation of ananatosides and related macrodilactone-containing rhamnolipids
We show that macrolactonization of gluco- and rhamnolipids dramatically interfere with their surfactant properties and biological activity.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 7533-7546
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01146D
Phase separation of p53 precedes aggregation and is affected by oncogenic mutations and ligands
Mutant p53 tends to form aggregates with amyloid properties, especially amyloid oligomers inside the nucleus, which are believed to cause oncogenic gain-of-function (GoF).
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 7334-7349
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01739J
Prediction and mitigation of mutation threats to COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies
Antibody therapeutics and vaccines are among our last resort to end the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6929-6948
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01203G
Coiled coils 9-to-5: rational de novo design of α-helical barrels with tunable oligomeric states
Systematic de novo design of peptides that form α-helical barrels with functionalisable central channels with a range of internal diameters.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6923-6928
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00460C
Linchpins empower promiscuous electrophiles to enable site-selective modification of histidine and aspartic acid in proteins
Linchpin-enabled promiscuous electrophile uncovers an unchartered reactivity landscape for the precision engineering of proteins.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6732-6736
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00335F
Light-guided intrabodies for on-demand in situ target recognition in human cells
Nanobodies are ideal to visualize and modulate targets in living cells. We designed a versatile platform for generating photo-conditional intrabodies by genetic code expansion. After illumination, the intrabodies show fast and stable binding.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 5787-5795
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01331A
Molecular recognition of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein: quantum chemical hot spot and epitope analyses
Quantum chemical calculations investigated molecular recognition of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins including its N501Y variant for ACE2 and antibody. Hot spot and epitope analyses revealed key residues to design drugs and antibodies against COVID-19.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4722-4739
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06528E
Glycoengineering artificial receptors for microglia to phagocytose Aβ aggregates
A combination of metabolic glycoengineering and self-triggered click chemistry is utilized to engineer a microglial membrane with ThS as artificial Aβ receptors to promote microglia to phagocytose Aβ aggregates.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4963-4969
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC07067J
Universal and high-fidelity DNA single nucleotide polymorphism detection based on a CRISPR/Cas12a biochip
A universal and high-fidelity genotyping method based on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system was performed on the microfluidic point-of-care equipment.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4455-4462
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05717G
A microscopic description of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibition with Michael acceptors. Strategies for improving inhibitor design
Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease by a Michael acceptor is studied using classical and QM/MM simulations. Results point out to a transition state with a key water molecule stabilizing the catalytic dyad and assisting the protonation step.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3489-3496
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC04978F
A straightforward methodology to overcome solubility challenges for N-terminal cysteinyl peptide segments used in native chemical ligation
We herein describe a straightforward approach for the introduction of a solubilizing tag on N-terminal cysteinyl segments used in native chemical ligation-based protein chemical synthesis. Conveniently, the tag is removed during the ligation.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3194-3201
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06001A
Amplified detection of nucleic acids and proteins using an isothermal proximity CRISPR Cas12a assay
Herein, we develop an isothermal proximity CRISPR Cas12a assay that harnesses the target-induced collateral cleavage activity of Cas12a for the quantitative profiling of gene expression and detection of proteins with high sensitivity and specificity.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 2133-2137
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06113A
Enhancing glycan stability via site-selective fluorination: modulating substrate orientation by molecular design
Single site OH → F substitution at the termini of maltotetraose leads to significantly improved hydrolytic stability towards α-amylase and α-glucosidase relative to the natural compound.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1286-1294
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC04297H
Ultrasensitive single-cell proteomics workflow identifies >1000 protein groups per mammalian cell
The combination of nanodroplet sample preparation, ultra-low-flow nanoLC, high-field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and latest-generation mass spectrometry instrumentation provides dramatically improved single-cell proteome profiling.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1001-1006
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03636F
A photo-sensitizable phage for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii therapy and biofilm ablation
APNB for multidrug-resistant A. Baumannii therapy and biofilms ablation.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1054-1061
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC04889E
A biocompatible stapling reaction for in situ generation of constrained peptides
A synthetically straightforward and biocompatible peptide-stapling strategy that can be used directly in biochemical assays to identify constrained enzyme inhibitors.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 669-674
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05125J
Synthetic glycosidases for the precise hydrolysis of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides
Synthetic glycosidases with a sugar-binding active site and a precisely positioned acidic group hydrolyze oligo- and polysaccharides selectively in hot water to afford desired sugar products in a single step.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 374-383
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05338D
About this collection
This specially curated collection pulls together some of the most popular articles from 2021 and 2022 in the field of chemical biology. The collection presents some outstanding contributions to the field, ranging from proteomics to imaging, and as with all Chemical Science articles – they are all completely free to access and read. We hope you enjoy browsing through this collection.
If a particular article has inspired you, do feel free to share on social media using the buttons on each article landing page and use our hashtag: #ChemSciMostPopular