The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1992
Richard L Tolman, Warren, NJ (US);
Stephen Marburg, Metuchen, NJ (US);
William J Leanza, Berkeley Heights, NJ (US);
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (US);
Abstract
Homocysteine thiolactone derivatives in which the nitrogen is acylated with groups containing acidic functionalities have been synthesized. These include the succinyl, the carboxymethylglutaryl, the 3-phosphonopropionyl and the 3-sulfopropionyl derivatives. These thiolactones can be used to introduce a thiol functionality into proteins such as the outer membrane protein complex of Neisseria meninioitidis (OMPC) allowing conjugation with electrophilic ligands. This chemistry is similar to known N-acetyl-homocysteine thiolactone chemistry, but the pK.sub.a values are such that at pH 7, concomitant negative charge is introduced into the conjugate. Such negative charge neutralizes excess positive charge introduced when arginine- and lysine-rich peptides are bonded as ligands. In the case of OMPC, introduction of positive charge commonly effects irreversible precipitation of the conjugate. Conjugates prepared with the anionic thiolactones have improved solubility.