alpha-lipoic acid-NHS (CAS 40846-94-4)

alpha-lipoic acid-NHS (Alpha-lipoic acid-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester) is a specialized derivative of alpha-lipoic acid, designed to improve its conjugation efficiency to proteins and other molecules in biochemical applications. This compound retains the antioxidative properties of its parent molecule, alpha-lipoic acid, but the introduction of the N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester enhances its reactivity towards nucleophilic groups, such as the amino groups on lysine residues or the N-termini of proteins. This modification facilitates the formation of stable amide bonds under mild conditions, making alpha-lipoic acid-NHS an invaluable tool in the preparation of bioconjugates for research, particularly in the study of protein structure and function, enzyme activity, and the development of targeted delivery systems. Its ability to covalently attach to biomolecules without significantly altering their structure or function allows for the exploration of biological pathways and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms with minimal perturbation, supporting its extensive use in molecular biology and biochemistry research.