Traceless and site-specific ubiquitination of recombinant proteins

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Jul 20;133(28):10708-11. doi: 10.1021/ja202799r. Epub 2011 Jun 28.

Abstract

Protein ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that regulates almost all aspects of eukaryotic biology. Here we discover the first routes for the efficient site-specific incorporation of δ-thiol-L-lysine (7) and δ-hydroxy-L-lysine (8) into recombinant proteins, via evolution of a pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA(CUA) pair. We combine the genetically directed incorporation of 7 with native chemical ligation and desulfurization to yield an entirely native isopeptide bond between substrate proteins and ubiquitin. We exemplify this approach by demonstrating the synthesis of a ubiquitin dimer and the first synthesis of ubiquitinated SUMO.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Methanosarcina barkeri / enzymology
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases
  • pyrrolysine
  • Lysine