Site-specific protein cross-linking by peroxidase-catalyzed activation of a tyrosine-containing peptide tag

Bioconjug Chem. 2011 Jan 19;22(1):74-81. doi: 10.1021/bc1003982. Epub 2010 Dec 13.

Abstract

Protein modification methods represent fundamental techniques that are applicable in many fields. In this study, a site-specific protein cross-linking based on the oxidative tyrosine coupling reaction was demonstrated. In the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and H(2)O(2), tyrosine residues undergo one-electron oxidation reactions and form radicals in their phenolic moieties, and these species subsequently react with each other to form dimers or further react to generate polymers. Here, a peptide-tag containing a tyrosine residue(s) (Y-tag, of which the amino acid sequences were either GGGGY or GGYYY) was genetically introduced at the C-terminus of a model protein, Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (BAP). Following the incubation of recombinant BAPs with HRP and H(2)O(2), Y-tagged BAPs were efficiently cross-linked with each other, whereas wild-type BAP did not undergo cross-linking, indicating that the tyrosine residues in the Y-tags were recognized by HRP as the substrates. To determine the site-specificity of the cross-linking reaction, the Y-tag was selectively removed by thrombin digestion. The resultant BAP without the Y-tag showed no reactivity in the presence of HRP and H(2)O(2). Conversely, Y-tagged BAPs cross-linked by HRP treatment were almost completely digested into monomeric BAP units following incubation with the protease. Moreover, cross-linked Y-tagged BAPs retained ∼95% of their native enzymatic activity. These results show that HRP catalyzed the site-specific cross-linking of BAPs through tyrosine residues positioned in the C-terminal Y-tag. The site-selective enzymatic oxidative tyrosine coupling reaction should offer a practical option for site-specific and covalent protein modifications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / chemistry*
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / genetics
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / isolation & purification
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Biocatalysis*
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Horseradish Peroxidase / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thrombin / metabolism
  • Tyrosine*

Substances

  • Oligopeptides
  • Tyrosine
  • Horseradish Peroxidase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Thrombin