Fast and selective labeling of N-terminal cysteines at neutral pH via thiazolidino boronate formation.

ABSTRACT: Facile labeling of proteins of interest is highly desirable in proteomic research as well as in the development of protein therapeutics. Herein we report a novel method that allows for fast and selective labeling of proteins with an N-terminal cysteine. Although N-terminal cysteines are well known to conjugate with aldehydes to give thiazolidines, the reaction requires acidic conditions and suffers from slow kinetics. We show that benzaldehyde with an ortho-boronic acid substituent readily reacts with N-terminal cysteines at neutral pH, giving rate constants on the order of 10³ M^-1 s^-1. The product features a thiazolidono boronate (TzB) structure and exhibits improved stability due to formation of the B-N dative bond. While stable at neutral pH, the TzB complex dissociates upon mild acidification. These characteristics make the TzB conjugation chemistry potentially useful for the development of drug-protein conjugates that release the small molecule drug in acidic endosomes.

SUBMITTER: Bandyopadhyay A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5201210 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature