Iminoboronates: A New Strategy for Reversible Protein Modification

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 134; no. 24; pp. 10299 - 10305
• Main Authors: Cal, Pedro M. S. D, Vicente, João B, Pires, Elisabete, Coelho, Ana V, Veiros, Luı́s F, Cordeiro, Carlos, Gois, Pedro M. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WASHINGTON American Chemical Society 20.06.2012; Amer Chemical Soc
• Subjects: Boronic Acids - chemistry; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Dopamine - chemistry; Fructose - chemistry; Glutathione - chemistry; Imines - chemistry; Lysine - chemistry; Models, Molecular; Muramidase - chemistry; Physical Sciences; Proteins - chemistry; Science & Technology; Somatostatin - chemistry; CHEMISTRY; PEPTIDES; SACCHARIDE-ACCELERATED HYDROLYSIS; BIOCONJUGATION; ACIDS
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja303436y

Protein modification has entered the limelight of chemical and biological sciences, since, by appending small molecules into proteins surfaces, fundamental biological and biophysical processes may be studied and even modulated in a physiological context. Herein we present a new strategy to modify the lysine’s ε-amino group and the protein’s N-terminal, based on the formation of stable iminoboronates in aqueous media. This functionality enables the stable and complete modification of these amine groups, which can be reversible upon the addition of fructose, dopamine, or glutathione. A detailed DFT study is also presented to rationalize the observed stability toward hydrolysis of the iminoboronate constructs.