title: Synthesis and photochemistry of a new class of photocleavable protein cross-linking reagents.
abstract: A new series of photocleavable protein cross-linking reagents based on bis(maleimide) derivatives of diaryl disulfides have been synthesised. They have been functionalised with cysteine and transient absorption spectra for the photolysis reaction have been recorded by using the pump-probe technique with a time resolution of 100 femtoseconds. Photolysis of the disulfide bond yields the corresponding thiyl radicals in less than a picosecond. There is a significant amount of geminate recombination, but some of the radicals escape the solvent cage and the quantum yield for photocleavage is 30 % in water.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemical Biology, Krebs Institute, for Biomolecular Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK.
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milanesi
authors.forename: Gavin D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Godfrey S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Beddard
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Waltho
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000145:classification* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000145:classification / Q000528:radiation effects; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010777:Photochemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000145:classification* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005609:Free Radicals; D011506:Proteins; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds