Cleveland, UK, 1st October 2014 / Sciad Newswire / Leading research peptide manufacturer Cambridge Research Biochemicals (CRB) announced today that it has signed a non-exclusive license with The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) to add click chemistry services, namely the “click” labelling of peptides and proteins, to its existing service portfolio.
CRB is a world leader in providing complex and heavily modified peptides to researchers within the Life Sciences discipline. The partnership with TSRI will enable the company to synthesise more creative and complex peptide targets utilising click chemistry, particularly those considered to be of high importance in the field of drug discovery.
The “click” reaction traditionally involves coupling of an alkyne functionality within an organic system to an azide moiety using a copper catalyst. However, it is more broadly defined by inventors Sharpless et al as a reaction that is wide in scope and easy to perform, uses only readily available reagents, and is insensitive to oxygen and water. Due to the ease of the synthetic processes involved in the reaction rapid turnaround times will be readily achievable.
TSRI, which became an independent organization in 1993, is the result of the inspiration, vision, and dedication of many scientists over the years. Originally The Scripps Metabolic Clinic founded by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps back in 1924, the facility diagnosed, treated and researched metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Today, TSRI operates across two campuses in La Jolla, California, and Jupiter, Florida, and houses more than 200 independent investigators, 650 postdoctoral fellows, and 225 Ph.D. students across its sites.
"We always look to provide the most comprehensive range of peptide modifications, and adding click chemistry to our existing portfolio will allow our customers to attain their research goals more readily, ” comments Emily Humphrys, CRB's Commercial Director. “We are delighted to be working with The Scripps Research Institute, which has produced some of the world’s most eminent scientists and boasts three Nobel Laureates amongst their staff and alumni, including Karl Barry Sharpless, the inventor and pioneer of click chemistry.”
"We are very excited that Cambridge Research Biochemicals now holds a licence for supplying click chemistry services for the conjugation and modification of peptides, dyes and proteins for research use," states Donaldson G. Santos, Senior Technology Development Officer at TSRI. "CRB’s expertise in peptide synthesis, coupled with the technology licenced from our institute, will enable research scientists to commission the synthesis of innovative peptide solutions for their research needs.”
Over the course of its 34 years of business, Cambridge Research Biochemicals has expanded the service portfolio to incorporate peptide labelling with stable isotopes, proprietary fluorescent dyes and radiochemicals, in addition to expanding the chemistry portfolio to include custom building-block synthesis. Europium labelling was added in 2013 and new fluorescent dyes are incorporated frequently under current agreements in place with Life Technologies – Molecular Probes and Licor Biosciences. The addition of click chemistry services to this expanding peptide portfolio will consolidate CRB’s position as a leading player in a much specialised field.
For more information, please contact:
Cambridge Research Biochemicals:
Emily Humphrys, Commercial Director
E: Emily.Humphrys@crbdiscovery.com
T: 01642 567 180
About CRB
Cambridge Research Biochemicals is a leading independent producer of custom-made peptide and antibody tools, supplying researchers in the pharmaceutical, life science and academic sectors worldwide. The company produces a wide and varied selection of bespoke peptides and also offers both polyclonal and monoclonal antibody generation programmes. CRB also distributes supporting products such as PNA and Europium chelate.
The company was founded in 1980 in Cambridge and moved to the North-East when acquired by ICI in 1989. After a succession of large corporation owners from Zeneca to Avecia, the company was bought by its management team in 2000 and became an independent privately owned specialist company once again. Emily Humphrys and Alison White, directors for 14 years are now the longest standing owners of CRB.
To learn more about CRB, please visit http://www.crbdiscovery.com, e-mail crbsales@crbdiscovery.com