Final answer:
The EDC/NHS reaction activates carboxyl groups, with NHS increasing efficiency, to form stable amide bonds commonly used in bioconjugation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The EDC/NHS (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-Hydroxysuccinimide) reaction refers to a method used to activate carboxyl groups for amide bond formation with amines. This reaction is particularly useful for creating peptide bonds and coupling biomolecules. The general procedure involves the addition of EDC to a solution containing a carboxylate to form an O-acylisourea intermediate, which is relatively unstable and can react with nucleophiles such as amines. To increase the efficiency and selectivity of the reaction, NHS (or sulfo-NHS) is typically added to form a more stable amine-reactive NHS-ester. This NHS-ester can then react with an amine to form a stable amide bond, while releasing NHS. This reaction is commonly used in bioconjugation techniques.