BASF press release on DNA labeling via click chemistry

BASF press release 10/4/2010

Baseclick GmbH, a spin-off from BASF SE and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, has signed licensing agreements with Integrated DNA Technology (IDT), Ella Biotech and metabion to provide click chemistry labeling of DNA. European Patent Office has granted the this patent to baseclick GmbH effective on 9/1/2010.

Based on Sharpless click chemistry and developed by Prof. Thomas Carell of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Germany, the baseclick technology allows labeling multiple dyes on DNA strands in a sequence-specific manner. Baseclick GmbH has obtained a worldwide license for click chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute.

Applications include analyses for pathogens and detection of mutations in human, animal and plant genomes. A related report is available "Notable oligonucleotide modification using click chemistry".
                 
                          

Click Chemitry patent applications

    
I did a USPTO patent application search (2/12/2010) and here is the result with "click chemistry" in the title:
1 20090306310 Method of using click chemistry to functionalize dendrimers
2 20090247651 Bioadhesive Composition Formed Using Click Chemistry
3 20090214755 CLICK CHEMISTRY SURFACE FUNCTIONALIZATION FOR RESONANT MICRO-CAVITY SENSORS
4 20090123372 DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR IMAGING PROBES FOR CARBONIC ANHYDRASE-IX USING CLICK CHEMISTRY
5 20090069561 CLICK CHEMISTRY ROUTE TO TRIAZOLE DENDRIMERS
6 20090054619 Functionalization of polyglycolides by "click" chemistry
7 20080311412 Polymeric Materials Via Click Chemistry
8 20080213175 Click chemistry-derived cyclic peptidomimetics as integrin markers
9 20080170992 Click chemistry-derived cyclopeptide derivatives as imaging agents for integrins
10 20060269942 In situ click chemistry method for screening high affinity molecular imaging probes
11 20060263293 Click chemistry method for synthesizing molecular imaging probes

It would be interesting to keep an eye on the following - which ones will be finally issued and what the implications will be in regard to the original Sharpless patent.

The list can clearly tell us the scope click chemistry has extended into: dendrimer, functional materials, surface, imaging, polymer, biomolecules, biomedicine, etc.

Sharpless patent claims and click chemistry

This patent by Sharpless et al was issued on May 20, 2008, titled "Copper-catalysed ligation of azides and acetylenes ". It claims:

1. A Cu(I) catalyzed process for preparing a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole comprising: contacting an organic azide and a terminal alkyne with a catalytic quantity of Cu(I) ion for a time sufficient to form by cycloaddition a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole.
2. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cycloaddition is carried out at ambient temperature.
3. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein equimolar amounts of the organic azide and the terminal alkyne are contacted with a catalytic quantity of the Cu(I) ion.
4. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said catalytic quantity of the Cu(I) ion is generated in situ by reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) with a reducing agent.
5. The process in accordance with claim 4 wherein the reducing agent is sodium ascorbate.
6. The process in accordance with claim 4 wherein Cu(II) sulfate pentahydrate is reduced by sodium ascorbate.

It appears the claim is the Cu(+) catalysed reaction ITSELF. Already having some impact on biotechnology and materials science, evidenced by licensing and product launches, it is expected to have a larger influence on more industries such as medicinal chemistry, nanotechnology, biomedical science, etc.