title: Recent advances in the synthesis and application of fluorescent α-amino acids.
abstract: Fluorescence spectroscopy has become a powerful technique for probing a range of complex biological processes including enzyme mechanisms and protein-protein interactions. While the application of this technique uses a number of strategies, many of these rely on the use of fluorescent α-amino acids. This review highlights the recent synthetic methods developed for the incorporation of highly conjugated chromophores into the side-chain of α-amino acids and the application of these compounds as probes for imaging in medicine and biology. In particular, the design and synthesis of α-amino acids bearing coumarin, flavone and polyaromatic derived chromophores is described.
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, The Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Andrew.Sutherland@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alexander H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Harkiss
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, The Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Andrew.Sutherland@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / Q000379:methods*; D003374:Coumarins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D047309:Flavones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003374:Coumarins; D047309:Flavones; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C030123:coumarin