DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries: A Selection System Based on Endowing Organic Compounds with Amplifiable Information

Abstract

<p class="first" id="P1">The discovery of organic ligands that bind specifically to proteins is a central problem in chemistry, biology and biomedical sciences. The encoding of individual organic molecules with distinctive DNA tags, serving as amplifiable identification barcodes, allows the construction and screening of combinatorial libraries of unprecedented size, thus facilitating the discovery of ligands to many different protein targets. Fundamentally, one links powers of genetics and chemical synthesis. After the initial description of DNA-encoded chemical libraries in 1992, several experimental embodiments of the technology have been reduced to practice. This review provides an historical account on important milestones for the development of DNA-encoded chemical libraries, a survey of relevant on-going research activities and a glimpse into the future. </p>