Modification with thiolation

Although amine-reactive protocols, such as SATA thiolation, result in nearly random attachment over the surface of the antibody structure, it has been shown that modification with up to 6 SATAs per antibody molecule typically results in no decrease in antigen binding activity (Duncan et al., 1983). Even higher ratios of SATA to antibody are possible with excellent retention of activity. 

Figure 21.5 SPDP can be used to modify both an antibody and a toxin molecule for conjugation purposes. In this case, the antibody is thiolated to contain a sulfhydryl group by modification with SPDP followed by reduction with DTT. A toxin molecule is then activated with SPDP and reacted with the thiolated antibody to effect the final conjugate through a disulfide bond.

Fluorescent probes containing sulfhydryl-reactive groups can be coupled to DNA molecules containing thiol modification sites. The chemical derivatization methods outlined in Section 2.2 (this chapter) may be used to thiolate the oligo for subsequent modification with a fluorophore. Appropriate fluorescent compounds and their reaction conditions may be found in Chapter 9. The protocol discussed in the previous section can be used as a general guide for labeling DNA molecules. 

Kaifer and coworkers showed interest in the modification of metal nanoparticles with organic monolayers prepared with suitable molecular hosts. They reported the preparation of water-soluble platinum and palladium nanoparticles modified with thiolated /1-cyclodexlrin (/ -CD) [69]. Nanoparticle synthesis was... 

Seres, T., Ravichandran, V., Moriguchi, T., Rokutan, K., Thomas, J. A., and Johnston, R. B. J., Protein S-thiolation and dethiolation during the respiratory burst in human monocytes. A reversible post-translational modification with potential for buffering the effects of oxidant stress. J. Immunol 156, 1973-1980 (1996). 

Figure 14.9. Scanning electron micrographs and schematic illustrations of 2D (A) and 3D (B) gold nanowire electrodes. (C) Modification of the gold nanowire electrodes with thiolated probe DNA, subsequent hybridization of target DNA, and detection via electrocatalysis of Ru(lll)/Fe(lll).

If cellular redox state, determined by the glutathione status of the heart, plays a role in the modulation of ion transporter activity in cardiac tissue, it is important to identify possible mechanisms by which these effects are mediated. Protein S-,thiolation is a process that was originally used to describe the formation of adducts of proteins with low molecular thiols such as glutathione (Miller etal., 1990). In view of the significant alterations of cardiac glutathione status (GSH and GSSG) and ion-transporter activity during oxidant stress, the process of S-thiolation may be responsible for modifications of protein structure and function. 

The introduction of redox activity through a Co11 center in place of redox-inactive Zn11 can be revealing. Carboxypeptidase B (another Zn enzyme) and its Co-substituted derivative were oxidized by the active-site-selective m-chloroperbenzoic acid.1209 In the Co-substituted oxidized (Co111) enzyme there was a decrease in both the peptidase and the esterase activities, whereas in the zinc enzyme only the peptidase activity decreased. Oxidation of the native enzyme resulted in modification of a methionine residue instead. These studies indicate that the two metal ions impose different structural and functional properties on the active site, leading to differing reactivities of specific amino acid residues. Replacement of zinc(II) in the methyltransferase enzyme MT2-A by cobalt(II) yields an enzyme with enhanced activity, where spectroscopy also indicates coordination by two thiolates and two histidines, supported by EXAFS analysis of the zinc coordination sphere.1210... 

Figure 1.59 Thiolation of an amine-containing compound with methyl 3-mercaptopropionimidate. The modification preserves the positive charge on the primary amine.

Thiolation of peptides and other small molecules containing amines proceeds easily with N-acetyl homocysteine thiolactone. However, protein modification often results in much lower yields unless the reaction is done for extended periods at pH 10-11. 

PDPH also may be used as a thiolation reagent to add sulfhydryl functional groups to carbohydrate molecules. The reagent can be used in this sense similar to the protocol described for AMBH (Chapter 1, Section 4.1). After modification of an oxidized polysaccharide with the hydrazide end of PDPH, the pyridyl group is removed by treatment with DTT, leaving the exposed sulfhydryl (Figure 5.15). 

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