L-Homopropargylglycine

L-Homopropargylglycine (HPG) is an amino acid analogue of methionine that contains a very small modification, specifically an alkyne moiety that can be fed to cultured cells and incorporated into proteins during active protein synthesis. Detection utilises the chemo-selective ligation or “click ” reaction between an azide and an alkyne or cyclo-octyne. The alkyne-modified protein is detected with either fluorescent azide or biotin azide. Detection sensitivity with these reagents in 1-D gels and Western blots is in the low femtomole range and compatible with downstream LC-MS⁄MS and MALDI MS analysis.