BOC Sciences Custom Bioconjugation Services

As a leading CRO in drug development, BOC Sciences provides petide oligo conjugation service, including peptide DNA and RNA conjugation, to explore the unique properties of these conjugates and help clients advance gene therapy and drug discovery.

A peptide oligonucleotide conjugate (POC) is a complex biomolecule that brings together two distinct components: peptides and oligonucleotides. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins and are involved in various biological functions. Oligonucleotides, on the other hand, are short nucleic acid chains, including DNA and RNA, that play crucial roles in gene expression, regulation, and silencing. The combination of these two components in POCs results in a versatile and powerful molecule with the potential to target specific cell types, tissues, or even intracellular components.

The creation of POCs involves intricate peptide conjugation chemistry. Peptides and oligonucleotides are joined through a variety of chemical reactions and linkers while maintaining the functional integrity of both components. The conjugation must be precise and well controlled to ensure that the resulting POC retains its intended properties.

• Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)

SPPS is one of the most common conjugation techniques. Peptides or oligonucleotides are assembled stepwise on a solid support allowing precise control of the peptide or oligo sequence.

• Oligonucleotide modification

Oligonucleotides undergo chemical modifications to introduce reactive groups (e.g., NHS ester) that will facilitate their coupling with the peptides. Oligonucleotide modifications also improve stability, cellular uptake, and resistance to enzymatic degradation.

• Click reaction

The copper(i)-catalyzed and strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloadditions (CuAAC and SPAAC) are among the most selective and versatile methods, which allow preparation of various oligonucleotide conjugates in high yields and of remarkable purity.

BOC Sciences is able to couple peptides to different oligonucleotides. We offer complete solutions for peptide oligonucleotide conjugates, including peptide conjugation, oligonucleotide modification, synthesis of POCs, and stability and pharmacokinetic studies of POCs.

By linking a peptide to DNA, POCs capable of targeting specific genes or genetic sequences within cells could be created. This approach allows for targeting and repairing faulty genes in gene therapy, or introducing new genes to correct genetic diseases.

POCs involving RNA molecules have significant potential in gene silencing applications. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or microRNAs (miRNAs) can be conjugated with peptides to selectively target and inhibit the expression of specific genes.

PPMO combines a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) and a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP). PMOs are synthetic nucleic acid analogs, which are designed to be complementary to specific target RNA sequences. CPPs are short peptides that facilitate the cellular uptake of PMOs. PPMOs can be used to specifically target and modify the expression of particular genes within cells.

• Targeted Drug Delivery: POCs can be engineered to specifically recognize and bind to cell surface receptors or transporters. By leveraging this targeting capability, therapeutic agents can be delivered directly to the desired cell types, reducing off-target effects and enhancing treatment efficacy.
• Diagnostic Applications: Peptides can be used to functionalize oligonucleotide-based probes for diagnostic purposes. POCs can be tailored to detect specific biomarkers or genetic mutations, enabling early disease detection.

Source: https://bioconjugation.bocsci.com/services/peptide-oligonucleotide-conjugation.html