Modification with 2-iminothiolane

Jue, R., Lambert, J.M., Pierce, L.R., and Traut, R.R. (1978) Addition of sulfhydryl groups to Escherichia coli ribosomes by protein modification with 2-iminothiolane (methyl 4-mercap-tobutyrimidate). Biochemistry 17, 5399-5405. 

Figure 1.60 Methyl 4-mercaptobutyrimidate forms 2-iminothiolane, which can react with a primary amine to create a sulfhydryl group. The modification preserves the positive charge of the original amine.

The 4,4 -dipyridyl disulfide can be used in aqueous solutions, but it has been found that modification of proteins with this reagent yields rapid disulfide bond formation. Only when 2-iminothiolane is used in tandem with 4,4 -dipyridyl disulfide can 4-dithiopyridyl groups be introduced into proteins (King et al., 1978) (Section 4.1, this chapter). This is due to disulfide interchange reactions predominating without the addition of 2-iminothiolane. 

Conjugates of (strept)avidin with these fluorescent probes may be prepared by activation of the phycobiliprotein with N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) to create a sulf-hydryl-reactive derivative, followed by modification of (strept)avidin with 2-iminothiolane or SATA (Chapter 1, Section 4.1) to create the free sulfhydryl groups necessary for conjugation. The protocol for SATA modification of (strept)avidin can be found in Section 3.1, this chapter. The procedure for SPDP activation of phycobiliproteins can be found in Chapter 9, Section 7. Reacting the SPDP-activated phycobiliprotein with thiol-labeled (strept)avidin at a molar ratio of 2 1 will result in highly fluorescent biotin binding probes. 

Prepare the protein or macromolecule to be thiolated in a non-amine-containing buffer at pH 8.0. For the modification of ribosomal proteins (often cited in the literature) use 50 mM triethanolamine hydrochloride, 1 mM MgCl2, 50 mM KC1, pH 8. The magnesium and potassium salts are for stabilization of some ribosomal proteins. If other proteins are to be thiolated, the same buffer may be used without added salts for stabilization. Alternatively, 50 mM sodium phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 8, or 0.1 M sodium borate, pH 8.0 may be used. For the modification of polysaccharides, use 20 mM sodium borax, pH 10, to produce reactivity toward carbohydrate hydroxyl residues. Dissolve the protein to be modified at a concentration of 10 mg/ml in the reaction buffer of choice. Lower concentrations also may be used with a proportional scaling back of added 2-iminothiolane. 

The binding of proteins such as tetanus toxoid (TTd) onto dextran can also be achieved via thiolation. Therefore, dextran is converted selectively at the terminal reducing ends. This is possible either after amination and modification of the terminal amino function with 2-iminothiolan hydrochlo-... 

Bernkop-Schnurch, A., Hornof, M. and Zoidl, T. (2003) Thiolated polymers- thiomers modification of chitosan with 2-iminothiolane. Int. J. Pharm. 260 229-237. 

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