Sigma BioBlogs

To close out Bioactive Small molecule week, we want to talk about selectivity.

Bioactive small molecules are not only potent (often nM) but they are also selective. What good is a powerful small molecule to your experiment  if it doesn’t choose its target wisely?  These compounds are powerful, yet non-promiscuous.

How selective are our bioactive small molecules? We are giving away bio-shirts for the best one-liners!!

Judy knows how selective bioactive small molecules are!

Once again, Judy Boland, R&D senior scientist and Quipster Extraordinaire is here to get us started!

My bioactive compound is so selective…

…it will only drink the tears of virgins who drink from crystal clear spring fed falls.

…it can find a single grain of sand in the Sahara.

…it only eats the finest Beluga caviar.

… it could go to the moon, but decided not to.

Tell us yours!  Not sure how selective our bioactive small molecules are?  Check them out!

Exactly how potent are our Bioactive Small Molecules??

Answer in the comments below, and you may win one of our fabulous bio tshirts! (3 are available for this week’s contest!)

Judy Boland, Senior R&D Scientist knows how potent bioactive small molecules are!

To give you ideas, we asked for help from the Where Bio begins team.

Judy Boland,  Sigma Life Science senior R&D scientist specializing in Protein Technologies and Assays, came back with so many snappy one-liners that Chuck Norris is hunting her down.  Never fear!  We have over 5000 bioactive small molecules to protect her.

My bioactive small molecule is so potent…

…it helps Sherpas scale Everest

…it can make Niagara Falls flow backwards.

…it can reset all the iPhones to daylight savings time in Europe.

…it can fight a team of Ninjas with one atom tied behind its back.

…it can make Chuck Norris leave a room.

and our favorite:

My bioactive small molecule is so potent, it can destroy the Death Star without using The Force.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user 1RadicalOne

Bonus: Another member of the Where Bio Begins team (who was unavailable for comment) provided this:

My small molecule is so potent, that in the event that your experiment lasts more than 4 hours, you should contact your physician.

We’ve given you some ideas..now…

How potent is your bioactive small molecule??  This contest will end Friday!  Hurry!  Get your entry in now!

Much like the Discovery Channel has “Shark Week” to give the public a comprehensive guide to sharks, we are declaring Nov 8-12 “Bioactive Small Molecule Week” and we’ll have fun games and contests around our Bioactive Small Molecules.

Retinoic Acid is involved in growth and development.

Depending on what you buy, and where you buy it, you may know a bioactive small molecule by many names.  You may know them by their more descriptive names…like modulator, inhibitor, agonist, antagonist or even signal triggering molecule.

We chose the phrase “Bioactive Small Molecules” to describe compounds that have a specific effect on a system – inhibiting, activating or otherwise modulating a cellular process.   This sets bioactive small molecules apart from the standard screening compound.  Screening compounds lack biological characterization.

Our 3,000+ bioactive compounds are potent (often nM), selective, drug-like small organics developed by basic researchers and drug companies all over the world.

Use the bioactive small molecule search tool.  Search by name, target, or activity and navigate directly to the compounds that interest you.   You can also search by your favorite biological connections with our Your Favorite Gene tool.

Check back at SigmaBioBlogs.com to learn exactly how potent and selective our bioactive small molecules are!