Reactive anthraquinone derivatives and conjugates thereof

Abstract

Anthraquinone derivatives are constructed for alkylation of target molecules. The anthraquinone derivative includes an anthraquinone ring system which has been modified by the addition of inducibly reactive substituents at positions on the ring system. The anthraquinone ring system can be selectively activated for alkylation of a target molecule. The substituents may be from 1 to 4 methyl groups, whereupon activation is achieved by a photochemical signal. In an additional alternative embodiment, the inducible reactive substituents may include both methyl groups and substituted methylene groups. In this embodiment, the activation of the anthraquinone derivative is achieved by photochemical and/or reductive signals. Alternatively, the substituents may be from 1 to 8 methyl groups modified to include a reactive group, whereupon activation is achieved by a chemical or enzymatic reductive signal. The anthraquinone derivatives of the invention may be used for non-specific modification of target molecules. Alternatively, the anthraquinone derivative may be further derivatized to permit specific modification of target molecules. The further derivatization of the anthraquinone includes attaching a probe to the anthraquinone ring system by way of a linking group. The probe is chosen to selectively localize to a target molecule, whereupon the anthraquinone derivative may be activated to react with and aklylate the target molecule. Also the process of employing such anthraquinone derivatives for use in vitro or in vivo for alkylating, specifically or non-specifically alkylating, target molecules.