Rapid catalyst-free hydrazone ligation: Protein-pyridoxal phosphoramides

Pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) represents an active form of Vitamin B₆ that shows relatively fast imine formation with hydrazines under physiological conditions without the need of a catalyst. A convenient phosphate/amine conjugation protocol was developed to covalently link PLP to proteins, affording proteins capable of hydrazone formation with bioorthogonal hydrazinyl functional groups. Thus, the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) was labeled with PLP. Pretreatment with fluorescein hydrazide gave dye-labeled Con A that labeled cell surfaces efficiently. Alternatively, pretargeting was achieved by labeling cells with Con A-PLP, then treatment in vitro with Alexa Fluor 488 hydrazide.