Boutureira O, Martínez‐Sáez N, Brindle KM, Neves AA, Corzana F, Bernardes GJL. Site-Selective Modification of Proteins with Oxetanes.
Chemistry 2017;
23:6483-6489. [PMID:
28261889 PMCID:
PMC5434895 DOI:
10.1002/chem.201700745]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Oxetanes are four-membered ring oxygen heterocycles that are advantageously used in medicinal chemistry as modulators of physicochemical properties of small molecules. Herein, we present a simple method for the incorporation of oxetanes into proteins through chemoselective alkylation of cysteine. We demonstrate a broad substrate scope by reacting proteins used as apoptotic markers and in drug formulation, and a therapeutic antibody with a series of 3-oxetane bromides, enabling the identification of novel handles (S-to-S/N rigid, non-aromatic, and soluble linker) and reactivity modes (temporary cysteine protecting group), while maintaining their intrinsic activity. The possibility to conjugate oxetane motifs into full-length proteins has potential to identify novel drug candidates as the next-generation of peptide/protein therapeutics with improved physicochemical and biological properties.
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