THIOL-REACTIVE FLUORESCENT-PROBES FOR PROTEIN LABELING

Cyclisation of N-alkylmaleamic acids mediated by acetic anhydride in dimethylacetamide in the presence of traces of cobalt naphthenate has been used for efficient assembly of a range of fluorescent maleimide reagents. The fluorescence responses of these reagents to addition of thiol across the maleimide double bond, and to hydrolysis of the maleimide ring, are described.