Volume 126, Issue 25 pp. 6619-6623
Zuschrift

Serine-Selective Aerobic Cleavage of Peptides and a Protein Using a Water-Soluble Copper–Organoradical Conjugate

Yohei Seki

Yohei Seki

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

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Dr. Kana Tanabe

Dr. Kana Tanabe

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), ERATO, Kanai Life Science Catalysis Project, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

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Dr. Daisuke Sasaki

Dr. Daisuke Sasaki

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), ERATO, Kanai Life Science Catalysis Project, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

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Dr. Youhei Sohma

Dr. Youhei Sohma

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), ERATO, Kanai Life Science Catalysis Project, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

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Dr. Kounosuke Oisaki

Corresponding Author

Dr. Kounosuke Oisaki

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Motomu Kanai

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Motomu Kanai

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), ERATO, Kanai Life Science Catalysis Project, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 (Japan)Search for more papers by this author
First published: 14 May 2014
Citations: 10

This work was supported by a Grant in-Aid for Young Scientist B and Scientific Research C from JSPS (for K.O.), and ERATO from JST (for M.K.). We thank T. Sonobe, Dr. Y. Aoi, and Dr. S. Kawashima for fruitful discussions.

Abstract

The site-specific cleavage of peptide bonds is an important chemical modification of biologically relevant macromolecules. The reaction is not only used for routine structural determination of peptides, but is also a potential artificial modulator of protein function. Realizing the substrate scope beyond the conventional chemical or enzymatic cleavage of peptide bonds is, however, a formidable challenge. Here we report a serine-selective peptide-cleavage protocol that proceeds at room temperature and near neutral pH value, through mild aerobic oxidation promoted by a water-soluble copper–organoradical conjugate. The method is applicable to the site-selective cleavage of polypeptides that possess various functional groups. Peptides comprising D-amino acids or sensitive disulfide pairs are competent substrates. The system is extendable to the site-selective cleavage of a native protein, ubiquitin, which comprises more than 70 amino acid residues.

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