title: Effect of methylation on the side-chain pKa value of arginine.
abstract: Arginine methylation is important in biological systems. Recent studies link the deregulation of protein arginine methyltransferases with certain cancers. To assess the impact of methylation on interaction with other biomolecules, the pKa values of methylated arginine variants were determined using NMR data. The pKa values of monomethylated, symmetrically dimethylated, and asymmetrically dimethylated arginine are similar to the unmodified arginine (14.2 ± 0.4). Although the pKa value has not been significantly affected by methylation, consequences of methylation include changes in charge distribution and steric effects, suggesting alternative mechanisms for recognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evich
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stroeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602.
authors.forename: Yujun George
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303.
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Germann
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008745:Methylation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine
keywords: NMR spectroscopy; arginine; methylation; methyltransferase; pH titration; pKa determination