Propargyl-farnesol is an alkyne-modified isoprenoid that acts as a chemical reporter of protein prenylation via “Click” chemistry.
The alkyne-modified isoprenoids were developed by the Distefano group at the University of Minnesota as chemical reporters of protein prenylation. The isoprenoids readily penetrate mammalian cells and are used as substrates by prenyltransferases. The pendant alkyne can be derivatized with an azide-containing tag, such as a fluorophore or biotin, via a Cu(I) catalyzed “Click” reaction allowing the prenylated proteins to be identified and quantified.
