Traceless cysteine-linchpin enables precision engineering of lysine in native proteins

Nat Commun. 2022 Oct 13;13(1):6038. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-33772-1.

Abstract

The maintenance of machinery requires its operational understanding and a toolbox for repair. The methods for the precision engineering of native proteins meet a similar requirement in biosystems. Its success hinges on the principles regulating chemical reactions with a protein. Here, we report a technology that delivers high-level control over reactivity, chemoselectivity, site-selectivity, modularity, dual-probe installation, and protein-selectivity. It utilizes cysteine-based chemoselective Linchpin-Directed site-selective Modification of lysine residue in a protein (LDMC-K). The efficiency of the end-user-friendly protocol is evident in quantitative conversions within an hour. A chemically orthogonal C-S bond-formation and bond-dissociation are essential among multiple regulatory attributes. The method offers protein selectivity by targeting a single lysine residue of a single protein in a complex biomolecular mixture. The protocol renders analytically pure single-site probe-engineered protein bioconjugate. Also, it provides access to homogeneous antibody conjugates (AFC and ADC). The LDMC-K-ADC exhibits highly selective anti-proliferative activity towards breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cysteine* / chemistry
  • Immunoconjugates* / chemistry
  • Lysine / chemistry
  • Protein Engineering
  • Proteins / chemistry

Substances

  • Immunoconjugates
  • Proteins
  • Lysine
  • Cysteine