The technology

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have developed a novel two-step process for producing cyclic peptides with labels that can be applied as therapeutic agents. By implementing a method using dibromoxylene to synthesize peptide linkers, peptides can be simultaneously cyclized and labeled. The figure below displays the process for the synthesis of such peptides mentioned above.

Figure 1. Tribromomethyl benzene is added to a carboxylic acid or phenol. The resulting ester or ether dibromo products are then added to a peptide containing two cysteines. Finally, the resulting peptide becomes cyclized and labeled simultaneously.