Nanyang Technological University

Tingting Jiang

Bengang Xing

Xianfeng Huang

Rongrong Liu

Junxin Aw

Qing Shao

Yanmei Yang

Chungyen Ang

The present invention relates to compounds for and a method of detecting beta-lactamase activity in a sample. The sample is contacted with a nanoparticulate tag. The nanoparticulate tag comprises a metal or a combination of metals, or it comprises a nanotube of a metal, boron nitride and/or carbon. The respective metal is capable of forming one of a covalent bond, a coordinative bond and a non-covalent interaction with a thio or a seleno group. The sample is contacted with a compound of one of general formulas (I)-(III) and (VII)-(IX). At least one beta-lactam moiety of the compound is cleaved by the beta-lactamase activity in the sample. As a result a cleavage moiety Z-A-Z, Z-A-Z&#x2014;R, Z-A-Z&#x2014;R, Z-A-Z&#x2014;R, Z-A-Z&#x2014;Ror Z-G-N(R)Ris released that is immobilized on the surface of the nanoparticulate tag by a covalent bond via a Z atom. The presence of beta-lactamase activity is determined based on the presence of the cleavage moiety immobilized onto the surface of the nanoparticulate tag.

Methods and compounds for detecting beta-lactamase activity

The present invention relates to compounds for and a method of detecting beta-lactamase activity in a sample. The sample is contacted with a nanoparticulate tag. The nanoparticulate tag comprises a metal or a combination of metals, or it comprises a nanotube of a metal, boron nitride and/or carbon. The respective metal is capable of forming one of a covalent bond, a coordinative bond and a non-covalent interaction with a thio or a seleno group. The sample is contacted with a compound of one of general formulas (I)-(III) and (VII)-(IX). At least one beta-lactam moiety of the compound is cleaved by the beta-lactamase activity in the sample. As a result a cleavage moiety Z-A-Z, Z-A-Z&#x2014;R, Z-A-Z&#x2014;R, Z-A-Z&#x2014;R, Z-A-Z&#x2014;Ror Z-G-N(R)Ris released that is immobilised on the surface of the nanoparticulate tag by a covalent bond via a Z atom. The presence of beta-lactamase activity is determined based on the presence of the cleavage moiety immobilized onto the surface of the nanoparticulate tag.

The present invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I) useful in the determining the presence, amount or activity of an enzyme in living cells, a method of preparing said compounds and a kit thereof.

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Tingting Jiang