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Introduction of bioorthogonal functionalities (e.g., trans-cyclooctene-TCO) into a protein of interest by site-specific genetic encoding of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) creates uniquely targetable platforms for fluorescent labeling schemes in combination with tetrazine-functionalized dyes. However, fluorescent labeling of an intracellular protein is usually compromised by high background, arising from the hydrophobicity of ncAAs; this is typically compensated for by hours-long washout to remove excess ncAAs from the cellular interior. To overcome these problems, we designed, synthesized, and tested new, hydrophilic TCO-ncAAs. One derivative, DOTCO-lysine was genetically incorporated into proteins with good yield. The increased hydrophilicity shortened the excess ncAA washout time from hours to minutes, thus permitting rapid labeling and subsequent fluorescence microscopy., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We designed and synthesised carboxymethylmonobenzocyclooctyne (COMBO) through a four-step reaction pathway. COMBO is a new, structurally simple, non-fluorinated, and directly conjugable copper-free click reagent, which shows excellent reaction kinetics, as also evidenced by theoretical calculations. Additionally, the carboxylic acid appendage allows further conjugation to biomolecules or fluorescent labels. The utility of COMBO in bioorthogonal labelling schemes was demonstrated when a COMBO-containing fluorescent label was employed in glycan imaging of HeLa cells (metabolically modified to have azidosialic acid residues on their cell-surface glycans)., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)