Carbonyl reactive linkers are a type of small molecule linker that are commonly used in chemical synthesis and drug development. These linkers are designed to be reactive towards carbonyl functional groups, which are commonly found in a wide range of biological molecules, including proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids.
There are several different types of carbonyl reactive linkers, including those that react specifically with aldehydes, ketones, or esters. These linkers typically contain a functional group, such as an amine or hydrazine, that is capable of reacting with the carbonyl group to form a stable covalent bond. This covalent bond can then be used to link the linker to the biological molecule of interest, allowing for the attachment of other functional groups or molecules.
Carbonyl reactive linkers are commonly used in drug development, where they are used to link small molecule drugs to targeting ligands or to the surfaces of nanoparticles. They are also used in the synthesis of peptides and other complex molecules, where they can be used to link together different amino acid or nucleotide building blocks.