Functional Targets for Bioconjugation

This Chapter discusses the chemical properties and functional groups of biomolecules that are most often used in making bioconjugates. The Chapter initially is divided into sections that focus on one type of biomolecule, including amino acids, peptides, and proteins; sugars, polysaccharides, and glycoconjugates; and nucleic acids and oligonucleotides. In each of these sections, the biological activity and structural properties of the molecules are considered as well as the location and reactivities of various functional groups that can be used for conjugation purposes. This information provides options for designing the best bioconjugation strategies for use with any type of biomolecule. Also discussed are methods of derivatizing biomolecules to produce specific functional groups for further modification or conjugation purposes. In addition, two final sections provide an overview of the reagents and methods used to create specific functional groups and to block or protect functional groups during bioconjugation reactions.