British Technology Group USA

Barry V Pepich

George E Renzoni

Deborah C Schindele

Karen L Fearon

Clifford C Leznoff

Louis J Theodore

Niels H Andersen

Thomas H Stanton

Fluorescent and/or chromogenic reagents in which a phthalocyanine derivative is monomerically conjugated with an antigen, antibody, oligonucleotide, or nucleic acid. Methods are presented in in which greater than 90% of the phthalocyanine dyes are monomeric when conjugated. This greatly enhances their performance as detectable markers in immunoassays, nucleic acid probe assays, immunoblotting, hybridization assays, microscopy, imaging, flow cytometry, DNA sequencing, and photodynamic therapy. For use as fluorophores, the free base phthalocyanine may or may not be metallated. Metals for fluorescent phthalocyanine include aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, gallium, germanium, cadmium, scandium, magnesium, tin, and zinc. For use as chromogens, the phthalocyanine may or may not be metallated. For use in aqueous solution, the phthalocyanine macrocycle should be derivatized with water-solubilizing substituents such as sulfonic acid, phosphate, phosphonate, hydroxy, phenoxy, amino, ammonium, or pyridinium groups. To promote disaggregation, metallation with an atom of +3 valence or higher is recommended, so that the monomer will take on an axial ligand in aqueous solution. For use in enzymatic immunoassays and enzymatically enhanced nucleic acid probe assays, the monomeric phthalocyanine derivative is conjugated via an enzyme-cleavable linkage with the antigen, antibody, oligonucleotide, or nucleic acid. Reversibly quenched embodiments are also provided in which a cleavable linkage joins a fluorescent phthalocyanine monomer with another phthalocyanine, a heavy metal, or a paramagnetic species.

Monomeric phthalocyanine reagents

Red-shifted, water-soluble, fluorescent, monomerically-tetherable derivatives having the formula: ##STR1## wherein, M represents either H.sub.2 or is selected from among the following metals: aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, gallium, germanium, cadmium, scandium, magnesium, tin, and zinc. Each R.sub.1 is independently selected from --XYW, --YW, and --W. X represents either a carbon, or heteroatom selected from among oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, and selenium; Y represents a linking group; and W represents a water solubilizing group. The substituent R.sub.2 is selected from among --A, --Y'A, --XA, and --XY'A, where A denotes a biological entity such as an antibody, antibody fragment, nucleotide, nucleic acid probe, antigen, oligonucleotide, deoxynucleotide, dideoxynucleotide, avidin, streptavidin or membrane probe, or R.sub.2 is a reactive or activatable group suitable for conjugating to a biological entity. Y' is a linking group that tethers the biological entity to the phthalocyanine or tetrabenztriazaporphyrin macrocycle. Z is either a nitrogen atom or a carbon substituted with hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups. Z may also be attached to R.sub.2. Also disclosed are derivatives of the compounds of the above Formula in which 1-4 of the benzo ring(s) contain 1 or 2 N atoms. Methods of sequencing DNA and detecting analytes, including cells, using these derivatives are disclosed, as are kits for carrying out assays for the analytes and flow cytometry. Methods of detecting DNA using cationic compounds of the above Formula, wherein R.sub.2 =R.sub.1 and W=-N.sup.+ D.sub.1 D.sub.2 D.sub.3 are also disclosed. Further, compounds containing Tc, Gd, etc. as the metal in the above Formula may be used for imaging or therapy.

Phthalocyanine and tetrabenztriazaporphyrin reagents

Red-shifted, water-soluble, fluorescent, monomerically-tetherable derivatives having the formula: ##STR1## wherein, M represents either H.sub.2 or is selected from among the following metals: aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, gallium, germanium, cadmium, scandium, magnesium, tin, and zinc. Each R.sub.1 is independently selected from --XYW, --YW, and --W. X represents either a carbon, or heteroatom selected from among oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, and selenium; Y represents a linking group; and W represents a water solubilizing group. The substituent R.sub.2 is selected from among --A, --Y'A, --XA, and --XY'A, where A denotes a biological entity such as an antibody, antibody fragment, nucleotide, nucleic acid probe, antigen, oligonucleotide, deoxynucleotide, dideoxynucleotide, avidin, streptavidin or membrane probe, or R.sub.2 is a reactive or activatable group suitable for conjugating to a biological entity. Y' is a linking group that tethers the biological entity to the phthalocyanine or tetrabenztriazaporphyrin macrocycle. Z is either a nitrogen atom or a carbon substituted with hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups. Z may also be attached to R.sub.2. Also disclosed are derivatives of the compounds of the above formula in which 1-4 of the benzo rings(s) contain 1 or 2 N atoms. Methods of sequencing DNA and detecting analytes, including cells, using these derivatives are disclosed, as are kits for carrying out assays for the analytes and flow cytometry. Methods of detecting DNA using cationic compounds of the above formula, wherein R.sub.2 =R.sub.1 and W=--N.sup.+ D.sub.1 D.sub.2 D.sub.3 are also disclosed. Further, compounds containing Tc, Gd, etc. as the metal in the above formula may be used for imaging or therapy.

Tetrabenztriazaporphyrin reagents and kits containing the same

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Barry V Pepich