title: In vivo virus-based macrofluorogenic probes target azide-labeled surface glycans in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
abstract: Chemical addressability of viral particles has played a pivotal role in adapting these biogenic macromolecules for various applications ranging from medicine to inorganic catalysis. Cowpea mosaic virus possesses multiple features that are advantageous for the next generation of virus-based nanotechnology: consistent multimeric assemblies dictated by its genetic code, facile large scale production, and lack of observable toxicity in humans. Herein, the chemistry of the viral particles is extended with the use of Cu-free strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, or SPAAC reaction. The elimination of Cu, its cocatalyst and reducing agent, simplifies the reaction scheme to a more straightforward approach, which can be directly applied to living systems. As a proof of concept, the viral particles modified with the azadibenzylcyclooctyne functional groups are utilized to trigger and amplify a weak fluorescent signal (azidocoumarin) in live cell cultures to visualize the non-natural sugars. Future adaptations of this platform may be developed to enhance biosensing applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, 631 Sumter Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.
authors.forename: Clorissa L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Washington-Hughes
authors.forename: Yixing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xinrui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: L Andrew
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001386:Azides / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D002384:Catalysis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017798:Comovirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001386:Azides; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011134:Polysaccharides