Protein modification, bioconjugation, and disulfide bridging using bromomaleimides.
The maleimide motif is widely used for the selective chemical modification of cysteine residues in proteins. Despite widespread utilization, there are some potential limitations, including the irreversible nature of the reaction and, hence, the modification and the number of attachment positions. We conceived of a new class of maleimide which would address some of these limitations and provide new opportunities for protein modification. We report herein the use of mono- and dibromomaleimides for reversible cysteine modification and illustrate this on the SH2 domain of the Grb2 adaptor protein (L111C). After initial modification of a protein with a bromo- or dibromomaleimide, it is possible to add an equivalent of a second thiol to give further bioconjugation, demonstrating that bromomaleimides offer opportunities for up to three points of attachment. The resultant protein-maleimide products can be cleaved to regenerate the unmodified protein by addition of a phosphine or a large excess of a thiol. Furthermore, dibromomaleimide can insert into a disulfide bond, forming a maleimide bridge, and this is illustrated on the peptide hormone somatostatin. Fluorescein-labeled dibromomaleimide is synthesized and inserted into the disulfide to construct a fluorescent somatostatin analogue. These results highlight the significant potential for this new class of reagents in protein modification.
Smith
Mark E B
ME
Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H OAJ, UK.
Schumacher
Felix F
FF
Ryan
Chris P
CP
Tedaldi
Lauren M
LM
Papaioannou
Danai
D
Waksman
Gabriel
G
Caddick
Stephen
S
Baker
James R
JR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008301:Maleimides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018909:src Homology Domains
D004220:Disulfides; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; D008301:Maleimides; D013004:Somatostatin; D003545:Cysteine