Characterization of SH groups in porin of bovine heart mitochondria. Porin cysteines are localized in the channel walls.

Porin from bovine heart mitochondria contains probably two cysteines (Cys126 and Cys230 in human porin, Kayser, H., Kratzin, H. D., Thinnes, F. P., G?tz, H., Schmidt, W. E., Eckart, K. & Hilschmann, N. (1989) Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 370, 1265-1278). Reduced and oxidized forms of these cysteines were investigated in purified protein and in intact mitochondria using the agents dithioerythritol, cuprous(II) phenantroline, diamide and performic acid. Furthermore, intact mitochondria were labelled with the sulfhydryl-alkylating agents N-[14C]ethylmaleimide, eosin-5-maleimide and N-(1-pyrenyl)-maleimide. Affinity chromatography of bovine heart porin was performed with cysteine-specific material. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) Porin has one reduced and two oxidized forms of apparent molecular masses between 30 and 35 kDa. The native form of porin is the reduced 33 kDa form. The oxidized forms only appear after denaturation with SDS. (2) The 35-kDa reduced and the 33.5-kDa oxidized forms of porin show the same pore-forming properties after reconstitution of the protein into lipid bilayer membranes. (3) Labelling of cysteines by eosin-5-maleimide and N-(1-pyrenyl)-maleimide suggested their location at a boundary between the water-phase and the lipid-phase. Incubation of intact mitochondria with N-ethylmaleimide prior to eosin-5-maleimide and N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide treatment resulted in the inhibition of the fluorescent labelling. Among the cysteines present in the primary structure, Cys126 is the most sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide binding. (4) Bovine heart mitochondrial porin covalently bound to Affi-Gel 501 (with a 1.75 nm long spacer), but not to Thiopropyl-Sepharose 6B (with a 0.51 nm spacer). This suggests that at least one of the cysteines is localized between 0.51 nm and 1.75 nm deep in the protein micelle.     

Nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence investigations of temperature-induced conformational changes in cytochrome oxidase in phosphatidylcholine vesicles and solubilized systems

Intrinsic and lipid phase transition-induced conformational changes in cytochrome oxidase in phosphatidylcholine vesicle and solubilized systems were examined by the fluorescence lifetime of N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)-maleimide conjugated with the enzyme. The time-dependent fluorescence intensity of N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)-maleimide attached to cytochrome oxidase was described as a triple exponential decay. Both the intrinsic and lipid phase transition-induced conformational changes were detectable in plots of the average lifetime against temperature. In most cases a peak occurred at the temperature of the conformational change. The time-dependent emission anisotropy showed that N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)-maleimide embedded in cytochrome oxidase in phosphatidylcholine vesicles underwent a rapid restricted wobbling within a cone. The half-angle of the cone was around 30 degrees for cytochrome oxidase in dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles.     

The binding and catalytic activities of forms of ligandin after modification of its thiol groups.

Ligandin (glutathione S-transferase B, EC 2.5.1.18)was treated with p-mercuribenzoate, N-(4-dimethylamino-3,5-dinitrophenyl)-maleimide, 5,5,-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetamide or iodoacetate. Although performic acid oxidation revealed the presence of four cysteines, p-mercuribenzoate and N-(4-dimethylamino-3,5-dinitrophenyl)maleimide, the most effective of the reagents studied, reacted with only three residues. N-Ethylmaleimide and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) each reacted with two cysteines: iodoacetamide reacted with only one cysteine and iodoacetate was essentially unreactive. Modification of three thiol groups decreased both the enzymic and binding activities of ligandin although the number of binding sites was unaffected. Modification of only one or two of the thiol groups had little effect on the ligandin activities. It therefore appears that there is a thiol group in the common hydrophobic-ligand- and substrate-binding site of ligandin. Ligandin was separated into two fractions on CM-cellulose. Both fractions gave the same results with p-mercuribenzoate and iodoacetamide.     

Synthesis of a new heterobifunctional linker, N-[4-(aminooxy)butyl]maleimide, for facile access to a thiol-reactive 18F-labeling agent

A new heterobifunctional linker containing an aldehyde-reactive aminooxy group and a thiol-reactive maleimide group, namely N-[4-(aminooxy)butyl]maleimide, was synthesized as a stable HCl salt by O-alkylation of either N-hydroxyphthalimide or N-(4-monomethoxytrityl)hydroxylamine, followed by N-alkylation of maleimide, in an overall yield of 18% (seven steps) or 29% (five steps), respectively. This heterobifunctional linker allowed a simple and efficient synthesis of a maleimide-containing thiol-reactive (18)F-labeling agent. Thus, N-[4-[(4-[(18)F]fluorobenzylidene)aminooxy]butyl]maleimide (specific activity: approximately 3000 Ci/mmol at end of synthesis) was synthesized in two steps involving the preparation of 4-[(18)F]fluorobenzaldehyde, followed by its aminooxy-aldehyde coupling reaction to the heterobifunctional linker, with an overall radiochemical yield of approximately 35% (decay corrected) within approximately 60 min from end of bombardment. Initial (18)F-labeling experiments were carried out using a thiol-containing tripeptide glutathione (GSH) and a 5'-thiol-functionalized oligodeoxynucleotide (5'-S-ODN) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.5). After standing at room temperature for 10 min, the (18)F-labeled GSH and 5'-S-ODN were obtained in (18)F-labeling yields of approximately 70% and approximately 5% (decay-corrected), respectively. The heterobifunctional linker is easy to synthesize and provides a facile access to the maleimide-containing thiol-reactive (18)F-labeling agent, which could be advantageously employed in the development of (18)F-labeled biomomolecules for use with positron emission tomography.     

A pyrene maleimide with a flexible linker for sampling of longer inter-thiol distances by excimer formation

Pyrene-containing compounds are commonly used in a number of fluorescence-based applications because they can form excited-state dimers (excimers) by stacking interaction between excited-state and ground-state monomers. Their usefulness arises from the facts that excimer formation requires close proximity between the pyrenes and that the excimer emission spectrum is very different from that of the monomers. One of many applications is to assess proximity between specific sites of macromolecules labeled with pyrenes. This has been done using pyrene maleimide, a reagent that reacts with reduced thiols of cysteines, but its use for structural studies of proteins has been rather limited. This is because the introduction of two cysteines at sufficiently close distance from each other to obtain excimer fluorescence upon labeling with pyrene maleimide requires detailed knowledge of the protein structure or extensive site-directed mutagenesis trials. We synthesized and tested a new compound with a 4-carbon methylene linker placed between the maleimide and the pyrene (pyrene-4-maleimide), with the aim of increasing the sampling distance for excimer formation and making the use of excimer fluorescence simpler and more widespread. We tested the new compound on thiol-modified oligonucleotides and showed that it can detect proximity between thiols beyond the reach of pyrene maleimide. Based on its spectroscopic and chemical properties, we suggest that pyrene-4-maleimide is an excellent probe to assess proximities between cysteines in proteins and thiols in other macromolecules, as well as to follow conformational changes.     

Fluorescent derivatives of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

One sulfhydryl group per polypeptide chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from Escherichia coli was selectively labeled with N-[P-(2-benzoxazoyl)phenyl]-maleimide (NBM), 4-dimethylamino-4-magnitude of-maleimidostilbene (NSM), and N-(4-dimethylamino-3,5-dinitrophenyl)maleimide (DDPM) in 0.05 M potassium phosphate (pH 7). Modification of the sulfhydryl group did not alter the enzymatic activity or the binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) or thiochrome diphosphate to the enzyme. The fluorescence of the NBM or NSM coupled to the sulfhydryl group on the enzyme was quenched by binding to the enzyme of the substrate pyruvate the coenzyme thiamine diphosphate, the coenzyme analogue thiochrome diphosphate, the regulatory ligands acetyl-CoA, GTP, and phosphoenolpyruvate, and the acetyl-CoA analogue, ANS. Fluorescence energy transfer measurements were carried out for the enzyme-bound donor-acceptor pairs NBM-ANS, NBM-thiochrome diphosphate ANS-DDPM, and thiochrome diphosphate-DDM. The results indicate that the modified sulfhydryl group is more than 40 A from the active site and approximately 49 A from the acetyl-CoA regulatory site. Thus, a conformational change must accompany the binding of ligands to the regulatory and catalytic sites. Anisotropy depolarization measurements with ANS bound on the isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase in 0.05 M potassium phosphate (pH 7.0) suggest that under these conditions the enzyme is dimeric.     

Adenine nucleotide and phosphate transport systems of mitochondria. Relative location of sulfhydryl groups based on the use of the novel fluorescent probe eosin-5-maleimide

Eosin-5-maleimide is impermeable to the inner mitochondrial membrane, exhibiting essentially no reactivity with matrix glutathione or with beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase located on the matrix surface of the inner membrane. In intact mitochondria, eosin-5-maleimide is unreactive with the ADP/ATP antiporter even under conditions which promote maximal labeling by N-[3H]ethylmaleimide (i.e., ADP present). However, eosin-5-maleimide readily labels the ADP/ATP antiporter in "inverted" inner membrane vesicles even in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide. Labeling is prevented if the vesicles are prepared from mitochondria pretreated with carboxyatractyloside. In contrast to the ADP/ATP antiporter, essential sulfhydryl groups of the Pi/H+ symporter are accessible to eosin-5-maleimide in intact mitochondria with optimal inhibition of phosphate transport being observed at 25 degrees C. Eosin-5-maleimide also prevents labeling of the Pi/H+ symporter by N-[3H]ethylmaleimide. These results show that essential sulfhydryl groups of the ADP/ATP antiporter and the Pi/H+ symporter have differing reactivities and locations in functionally intact mitochondria. With respect to eosin-5-maleimide, sulfhydryl groups of the ADP/ATP carrier occur in two distinct classes, both of which are inaccessible in intact mitochondria. Only one class, depending on conditions, can be exposed in submitochondrial particles. In contrast, sulfhydryl group(s) of the Pi/H+ symporter behave as a single reactive class which is readily accessible in mitochondria at 25 degrees C.     

Labeling of functionally sensitive sulfhydryl-containing domains of acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica membranes

N-(1-Pyrene)maleimide, a fluorescent, lipophilic, alkylating agent, was used as a probe for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Preincubation with N-(1-pyrene)maleimide under nonreducing conditions inhibits agonist-induced cation permeability of AChR-enriched membranes. This inhibition is dependent on the concentration of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide used. This correlation was also exhibited by resonance energy transfer of tryptophan fluorescence to N-(1-pyrene)maleimide and by the labeling stoichiometries. However, agonist-induced desensitization, as based on the time-dependent inhibition of alpha-bungarotoxin binding upon preincubation with the agonist carbamylcholine, was unaffected by N-(1-pyrene)maleimide. Alkylation of the AChR by N-(1-pyrene)maleimide is pH-dependent with an apparent pKa of 7.5 and is unaffected by preincubation with carbamylcholine, alpha-bungarotoxin, tubocurarine, or decamethonium. Preincubation with a 25-fold molar excess of N-ethylmaleimide partially protects against N-(1-pyrene)maleimide, yet simultaneous incubation with an equimolar concentration does not protect. In contrast, simultaneous incubation with equimolar concentrations of phenylmaleimide or naphthylmaleimide inhibited N-(1-pyrene)maleimide alkylation by 52 and 67%, respectively. Each AChR subunit is labeled by N-(1-pyrene)maleimide. Prior alkylation with N-ethylmaleimide does not alter the labeling profile but lowers the amount of labeling of all subunits. Reductive methylation of membranes under conditions which dimethylate all or most protein amino groups does not inhibit alkylation by N-(1-pyrene)maleimide. The above results, as well as amino acid analysis of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide-alkylated receptor, indicate that a homologous class of cysteines, which reside in each subunit within the AChR domain embedded in the membrane, are involved in the reaction with N-(1-pyrene)maleimide.     

Inter-sulfhydryl distances in plasma fibronectin determined by fluorescence energy transfer: effect of environmental factors

Human plasma fibronectin, a dimeric glycoprotein, contains two cryptic free sulfhydryl groups per chain. Recent observations revealed that upon binding to a gelatin-coated surface the SH1 site, located between the DNA-binding and cell-binding domains, is partially exposed, while the SH2 site, situated within the carboxyl-terminal fibrin-binding domain, remains buried. Utilizing this newly discovered property of plasma fibronectin, we have developed a procedure to introduce maleimide derivatives of fluorescent probes such as N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide, 7-(diethylamino)-3-(4'-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin, or fluorescein 5-maleimide selectively into either the SH1 or SH2 site of the fibronectin molecule and have measured the inter-sulfhydryl distances in fibronectin by fluorescence energy transfer methods. The results show that the distance between the SH1 site of one subunit and the SH1 site of the other subunit is between 35 and 44 A, indicating the close proximity of the two subunits near the SH1-containing regions. On the other hand, the distance between the SH2 site of one subunit and the SH2 site of the other subunit is found to be greater than 95 A, suggesting that the two SH2-containing regions are well separated. Additionally, the distance between the SH1 and SH2 sites within each subunit is estimated to be 42-53 A, assuming no intersubunit energy transfer between the probes. Heparin or high salt, which drastically affects the hydrodynamic properties of fibronectin, had virtually no effect on the distance between the SH1-SH1 or the SH1-SH2 pair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of Sulfhydryl Reagents on [3H] Inositol Trisphosphate Binding to Dog Cerebellar Membranes

Abstract

Homogenates from dog cerebellum were fractionated using sucrose gradient centrifugation. The [³H]inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate binding and the glucose 6-phosphatase activities were found to co-purify. The binding was saturable and had high affinity (B_max=44 pmol/mg protein, K_d=116 nM). Selective chemical modification was used to examine amino acid residues of the microsomal receptor that might be critical for the binding of inositol trisphophate. Sulfhydryl reagents, p-chloromercuric-phenyl sulfonic acid, eosin 5-maleimide, N-ethyl maleimide and fluorescein 5-maleimide were found to be highly potent inhibitors of the binding with half-maximal inhibition occurring at about 20 µM, 70 µM, 1 mM, and 0.1 mM, respectively. The inhibition was specific since the presence of 10 µM of inositol trisphosphate during the reaction completely protected against the inhibition by these reagents. These results suggest that sulfhydryl group is essential for inositol trisphosphate binding to its receptor.     

Studies on conformational transitions of Ca2+,Mg2+-adenosine triphosphatase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. II. Conformational characteristics of stabilized reaction intermediates as revealed by fluorescent and paramagnetic probes

Various reaction intermediates of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase were stabilized and accumulated by modifying a specific SH group or by using nucleotide analogs. Conformational changes of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase during the catalytic cycle were studied in the stabilized intermediates by the use of fluorescent and spin probes, which were introduced at specific SH groups of ATPase, namely one highly reactive but functionally nonessential (SHN) and one essential for the decomposition of the E-P intermediate (SHD) [Kawakita, M., et al. (1980) J. Biochem. 87, 609-617]. The fluorescence intensity of N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)maleimide attached to SHD decreased by 2.5% upon addition of 10 microM AMP-P(NH)P provided that Ca2+ was also present. The AMP-P(NH)P-induced fluorescence change could also be detected by using other fluorescent probes such as N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl]maleimide and N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)maleimide. Moreover, labeling at SHN gave similar results. When SHN was labeled with N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl]maleimide, the fluorescence intensity also decreased by 2.5% upon addition of ATP only in the presence of Ca2+, where E-P formation took place. A conformational difference between ECa1-P X ADP and ECa1-P was suggested from saturation transfer ESR measurement of spin-labeled ATPase by using ADP beta S as an ADP analog to cause accumulation of ECa1-P X ADP beta S complex. Possible structural similarities among some of the intermediates are discussed based on these findings.     

Reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography of mercaptoacetate and N-acetylcysteine after derivatization with N-(1-pyrene)maleimide and N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)maleimide

We have developed a high-performance liquid chromatographic system capable of resolving mercaptoacetate and N-acetylcysteine as their N-(1-pyrene)maleimide (PM) and N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)maleimide (DACM) derivatives. Good resolution was obtained by ion pairing with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and chromatography on reversed phase. The detection limits for the thiols were about 50 fmol as their DACM derivatives and about 400 fmol as their PM derivatives. The method is illustrated by chromatography of urinary thiols which indicates that the derivatization and chromatography procedures should be well applicable in bioanalytical work.     

Preparation and in vivo evaluation of an N-(p-[125I]iodophenethyl)maleimide-antibody conjugate.

Protein sulfhydryl reactive N-(4-[125I]iodophenethyl)maleimide (IPEM, 5) was obtained from N-[4-(tri-n-butylstannyl)phenethyl]maleimide in 59-100% radiochemical yield. Conjugation of 5 to NR-ML-05 Fab, a murine anti-melanoma antibody Fab fragment that had been previously reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT), was effected in an average of 85% yield. Results from in vitro chemical challenges and serum stability studies on the IPEM conjugate of NR-ML-05 Fab (6) indicated a stable covalent attachment of the radioiodine. A biodistribution study of the IPEM conjugate in tumor-bearing athymic nude mice showed lack of significant accumulation of radioiodine in the thyroid and stomach which was an indication of in vivo stability. The observed uptake in tumor was consistent with that obtained for Chloramine-T- or p-iodobenzoate-labeled NR-ML-05 Fab conjugates.     

Evidence that inhibitors of anion exchange induce a transmembrane conformational change in band 3

The transport inhibitor, eosin 5-maleimide, reacts specifically at an external site on the membrane-bound domain of the anion exchange protein, Band 3, in the human erythrocyte membrane. The fluorescence of eosin-labeled resealed ghosts or intact cells was found to be resistant to quenching by CsCl, whereas the fluorescence of labeled inside-out vesicles was quenched by about 27% at saturating CsCl concentrations. Since both Cs+ and eosin maleimide were found to be impermeable to the red cell membrane and the vesicles were sealed, these results indicate that after binding of the eosin maleimide at the external transport site of Band 3, the inhibitor becomes exposed to ions on the cytoplasmic surface. The lifetime of the bound eosin maleimide was determined to be 3 ns both in the absence and presence of CsCl, suggesting that quenching is by a static rather than a dynamic (collisional) mechanism. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of erythrocyte membranes was also investigated using anion transport inhibitors which do not appreciably absorb light at 335 nm. Eosin maleimide caused a 25% quenching and 4,4'-dibenzamidodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate) caused a 7% quenching of tryptophan fluorescence. Covalent labeling of red cells by either eosin maleimide or BIDS (4-benzamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate) caused an increase in the susceptibility of membrane tryptophan fluorescence to quenching by CsCl. The quenching constant was similar to that for the quenching of eosin fluorescence and was unperturbed by the presence of 0.5 M KCl. Neither NaCl nor Na citrate produced a large change in the relative magnitude of the tryptophan emission. The tryptophan residues that can be quenched by CsCl appear to be different from those quenched by eosin or BIDS and are possibly located on the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3. The results suggest that a conformational change in the Band 3 protein accompanies the binding of certain anion transport inhibitors to the external transport site of Band 3 and that the inhibitors become exposed on the cytoplasmic side of the red cell membrane.     

Spin-label studies of membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin in normal and sickle cells.

A maleimide spin label (N-(1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidinyl)-maleimide) was reacted with oxyhemoglobin-free cell stromata of normal and sickle cells. The EPR spectrum of spin-labeled red cell membranes showed that the spin labels are attached to at least two different binding sites. There was a major signal, A, which characterized a strongly immobilized environment and a minor signal, B, which characterized a weakly immobilized environment. Quantitative EPR measurements using equal amounts of Hb AA and Hb SS red blood cells demonstrated that Hb SS red cell membranes had an approximately four times higher EPR signal intensity than Hb AA red cell membranes ((7.98 +/- 1.14 . 10(5) and (2.2 +/- 1.2) . 10(5) spin labels/cell, respectively). Moreover, the ratio of signal intensities A and B are different in these cells. Comparative spectrophotometric studies of membrane-associated denatured hemoglobins of Hb AA and Hb SS red cell membranes suggested that the EPR signal A is derived from spin labels attached to membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin, while signal B is mainly from spin labels attached to membranes. The combination of EPR spectrum of Hb AA membranes pretreated with N-ethylmaleimide and that of spin-labeled precipitated hemoglobin further strengthened this conclusion.     

Spectral properties of fluorescent derivatives of the oligomycin sensitivity conferring protein and analysis of their interaction with the F1 and F0 sectors of the mitochondrial ATPase complex

In order to study the kinetics and the nature of the interactions between the oligomycin sensitivity conferring protein (OSCP) and the F0 and F1 sectors of the mitochondrial ATPase complex, fluorescent derivatives of OSCP, which are fully biologically active, have been prepared by reaction of OSCP with the following fluorescent thiol reagents: 6-acryloyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (acrylodan), 2-(4-maleimidylanilino)naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (Mal-ANS), N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide (Mal-pyrene), 7-(diethylamino)-3-(4-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (Mal-coumarin), and fluorescein 5-maleimide (Mal-fluorescein). The preparation of these derivatives was based on the previous finding that the single cysteinyl residue of OSCP, Cys 118, can be covalently modified by alkylating reagents without loss of biological activity [Dupuis, A., Issartel, J. P., Lunardi, J., Satre, M., & Vignais, P. V. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 728-733]. For all fluorescent probes used, except Mal-pyrene and Mal-fluorescein, the emission spectra of conjugated OSCP were blue-shifted relative to those of the corresponding mercaptoethanol adducts, indicating that the fluorophores attached to Cys 118 were located in a hydrophobic pocket. These results were consistent with the high quantum yields and the increased fluorescence lifetimes of conjugated OSCP compared to mercaptoethanol adducts in aqueous buffer. They also fit with quenching data obtained with potassium iodide which showed that the fluorophore is shielded from the aqueous medium when it is attached to Cys 118 of OSCP. Especially noticeable was the wide half-width of the OSCP-acrylodan emission peak compared to that of mercaptoethanol-acrylodan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

N-(1-pyrene)maleimide: a fluorescent cross-linking reagent.

N-(1-Pyrene)maleimide is nonfluorescent in aqueous solution but forms strongly fluorescent adducts with sulfhydryl groups of organic compounds or proteins. The conjugation reactions of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide are relatively fast and can be monitored by the increase in fluorescence intensity of the pyrene chromophore. In cases where primary amino groups are also present in the system, we have observed a red shift of the emission spectra of the fluorescent adducts subsequent to the initial conjugation, as characterized by the disappearance of three emission peaks at 376, 396, and 416 nm, and the appearance of two new peaks at 386 and 405 nm. Model studies with N-(1-pyrene)maleimide adducts of L-cysteine and cysteamine indicate that the spectral shift is the result of an intramolecular aminolysis of the succinimido ring in the adducts. Evidence from both chemical analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the addition products supports this reaction scheme. N-(1-Pyrene)maleimide adducts of N-acetyl-L-cysteine and beta-mercaptoethanol, which have no free amino group, do not exhibit a spectral shift. Among several protein conjugates only the N-(1-pyrene)maleimide adduct of bovine serum albumin (PM-BSA) shows the spectral shift resembling that of PM-cysteine. N-(1-Pyrene)maleimide reacts with the sulfhydryl group of the single cysteine residue at position 34 in BSA. The finding that the alpha-amino group of the N-terminus in PM-BSA is blocked after the spectral shift is completed strongly suggests that N-(1-pyrene)maleimide cross-links the N-terminus and the cysteine residue in BSA. The relative proximity of the sulfhydryl and amino groups is very critical in the cross-linking as demonstrated by the observation that the spectral shift observed with PM-BSA can be prevented by addition of denaturing reagents such as 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate immediately after labeling, and by the failure of PM-glutathione to undergo the intramolecular aminolysis. Since the intramolecular rearrangement of PM adducts is associated with characteristic fluorescence changes, N-(1-pyrene)maleimide can serve as a fluorescent cross-linking reagent which provides information about the spatial proximity of sulfhydryl and amino groups in proteins.     

N-(1-Pyrenyl) maleimide inhibits telomerase activity in a cell free system and induces apoptosis in Jurkat cells

Telomerase activity is repressed in normal human somatic cells, but is activated in most cancers, suggesting that telomerase may be an important target for cancer therapy. Agents that interact selectively with telomerase are anticipated to exert specific action on cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated maleimide derivatives for their potency and selectivity of telomerase inhibition. Among the several N-substituted derivatives of maleimide tested, N-(1-Pyrenyl) maleimide was shown to exert the greatest inhibition of telomerase in a cell free system, with an IC50 value of 0.25 μM. Importantly, we demonstrated that N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide induces apoptosis in Jurkat T cells and displays the greatest differential cytotoxicity against hematopoietic cancer cells. These results suggest that N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide is an attractive maleimide to be tested and developed as anti-cancer drug.     

Studies on conformational transitions of Ca2+, Mg2+-adenosine triphosphatase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. I. Selective labeling of functionally distinct sulfhydryl groups with conformational probes and evidence for a Ca2+-dependent conformational change

Several maleimide derivatives of potential usefulness as conformational probes were tested for reactivity toward SH groups of Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. These include three fluorescent labels, N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)maleimide (ANM), N-(p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl)maleimide (BIPM), and N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)maleimide (DACM), and a spin label, 4-maleimido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl (MSL). These reagents also exhibit a selective reactivity toward SH groups which is similar to that of N-ethylmaleimide, although these conformational probes were somewhat more reactive than N-ethylmaleimide. Based on the above finding, procedures were devised to specifically label either one of two reactive SH groups of the ATPase, namely one highly reactive but functionally nonessential (SHN) and the other, essential for the decomposition of the E-P intermediate (SHD) [Kawakita, M., et al. (1980) J. Biochem. 87, 609-617], with any one of these conformational probes. Sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes labeled with ANM at either SHN or SHD showed a characteristic fluorescence whose intensity reversibly changed in response to the removal and readdition of Ca2+ ions in the range of 10(-6) to 10(-7) M. The change could be ascribed to a conformational change of the ATPase in response to dissociation and association of Ca2+ ions at the transport site. The Ca2+-dependent fluorescence change was quantitatively different, depending on whether the ATPase was labeled at SHN or SHD. Moreover, it was probe-specific in that BIPM and DACM fluorescence did not change in response to Ca2+. The possible significance of these observations is discussed.     

Microphotometric analysis of protein-bound thiols and disulfides with an azogenic maleimide

The chromogenic thiol reagent N-(4-aminophenyl)-maleimide (APM) was used to provide a sensitive procedure for the determination of protein-bound thiol group, both before and after reduction of disulfide bonds by tri-n-butylphosphine. The bound reagent is diazotized and coupled at low pH to N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine to form an intense magenta label (lambda max 547 nm) with a high molar absorbancy (epsilon 547 = 49,800 cm2/mmol). The validity of absolute quantitation afforded by the method was shown by comparing the results with standard chemical analyses of thiol contents in a model system. Furthermore, the applicability of the procedure to biological objects was shown on isolated epididymal bull sperm heads.