Cell permeable ATP analogs

A novel ATP analog featuring a polyamine linker enables efficient kinase-catalyzed biotinylation within live cells by enhancing cell permeability.

Technology Summary

ATP (adenosine 5’-triphosphate) analogs such as ATP-biotin are widely used to monitor biochemical events in vitro.  WSU researchers developed a specially designed ATP analog that replaces the conventional PEG linker with a positively charged polyamine linker, significantly improving cell permeability. This advancement allows the ATP analog to enter live cells and participate in kinase-catalyzed biotinylation, enabling detailed study of protein kinases and their substrates in physiologically relevant conditions. Experimental validation demonstrates successful intracellular protein labeling, overcoming the limitations of traditional ATP-biotin which is restricted to in vitro use. The invention supports enhanced research into cell signaling pathways critical to diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Key Advantages

• Enhanced cell permeability.
• Improves labeling efficiency and physiological relevance of protein interaction studies.
• Enables real-time study of kinase activity and substrate interactions inside living cells.
• Detailed chemical variations and synthesis methods for application flexibility.

Market Opportunities

• Facilitates advanced research into signaling pathways and disease mechanisms.
• Biochemical and molecular biology research focused on kinase function.
• Cell signaling pathway analysis in kinase-related diseases including cancer, diabetes, and others.
• Development of diagnostic tools based on kinase activity and protein labeling.

Stage of Development

 Pre-Clinical.

Patent Status

Issued US patent 10,429,397

References & Publications

Fouda 2015, Angew Chem Int Ed. 54(33), 9618-21

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201503041