Using dimethylsulfonium to identify readers of methylation

• Published in: Nature chemistry Vol. 16; no. 8; pp. 1221 - 1222
• Main Authors: Li, Xiang, Li, Xiang David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2024; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/638/403/933; 639/638/92/458/1648; Analytical Chemistry; Binding sites; Biochemistry; Chemical bonds; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Epigenetics; Humans; Inorganic Chemistry; Labeling; Lysine; Methylation; News & Views; news-and-views; Organic Chemistry; Peptides; Physical Chemistry; Post-translation; Proteins; Proteomics; Sulfonium Compounds - chemistry; Tryptophan

Decoding a post-translational modification requires the identification of its ‘reader’ proteins. Now a method can covalently trap the readers of lysine methylation using dimethylsulfonium as a methyllysine-mimicking ‘warhead’ to crosslink the tryptophan residues inside the binding pocket.