3/4-Mercaptobenzyl sulfonates were investigated as aryl thiol catalysts for native chemical ligation (NCL). Whilst catalysing NCL processes at a similar rate to 4-mercaptophenyl acetic acid (MPAA), the increased polarity and solubility of 3-mercaptobenzyl sulfonate in particular may favour its selection as NCL catalyst in many instances.

Understanding the factors that influence N → S acyl transfer in native peptide sequences, and discovery of new reagents that facilitate it, will be key to expanding its scope and applicability. Here, through a study of short model peptides in thioester formation and cyclisation reactions, we demonstrate that a wider variety of Xaa-Cys motifs than originally envisaged are capable of undergoing efficient N → S acyl transfer. We present data for the relative rates of thioester formation and cyclisation for a representative set of amino acids, and show how this expanded scope can be applied to the production of the natural protease inhibitor Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1).

Peptide and protein thioesters are playing an increasingly prominent role in the chemical toolbox for protein assembly and modification through Native Chemical Ligation (NCL). In this Emerging Area we highlight recent developments in a somewhat surprising route to thioesters: selective disruption of amides, the more stable carboxylic acid derivatives.

Peptide thioesters are important tools for protein synthesis and semi-synthesis through their use in Native Chemical Ligation (NCL). NCL can be employed to assemble site-specifically modified proteins that can help elucidate the mechanisms of biomolecular processes. In this article we explore the compatibility of phosphopeptide synthesis and glycopeptide synthesis with thioester production through N→S acyl transfer.

Sugars and simplified oligosaccharide “mimics” can be joined with protein fragments at pre-defined sites using reliable chemical reactions such as thiol alkylation and Cu(I) catalysed azide/acetylene ligation (click chemistry). These fragments have the potential to be assembled into neoglycoprotein therapeutics using native chemical ligation.

Peptides and proteins fragment sequence-specifically in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid to afford thioesters which can be used in native chemical ligation reactions.

Peptide thioesters readily prepared through N→S acyl transfer of a specific C-terminal motif provide access to biologically active mini-proteins using native chemical ligation.

GDP-2-, 3-, 4- or 6-azidomannoses can be successfully prepared from the corresponding azidomannose-1-phosphates and GTP using the enzyme GDP-Mannosepyrophosphorylase (GDP-ManPP) from Salmonella enterica and may serve as useful probes for mannosyltransferase activity.

Selective protein cleavage at methionine residues is a useful method for the production of bacterially derived protein fragments containing an N-terminal cysteine residue required for native chemical ligation. Here we describe an optimised procedure for cyanogen bromide-mediated protein cleavage, and ligation of the resulting fragments to afford biologically active proteins.

The straightforward synthesis of a novel class of neoglycopeptide and its fusion with a larger peptide thioester using sequential chemoselective ligations is described.

Peptide thioesters are important tools for protein synthesis and semi-synthesis through their use in Native Chemical Ligation (NCL). NCL can be employed to assemble site-specifically modified proteins that can help elucidate the mechanisms of biomolecular processes. In this article we explore the compatibility of phosphopeptide synthesis and glycopeptide synthesis with thioester production through N→S acyl transfer.

GDP-2-, 3-, 4- or 6-azidomannoses can be successfully prepared from the corresponding azidomannose-1-phosphates and GTP using the enzyme GDP-Mannosepyrophosphorylase (GDP-ManPP) from Salmonella enterica and may serve as useful probes for mannosyltransferase activity.

3/4-Mercaptobenzyl sulfonates were investigated as aryl thiol catalysts for native chemical ligation (NCL). Whilst catalysing NCL processes at a similar rate to 4-mercaptophenyl acetic acid (MPAA), the increased polarity and solubility of 3-mercaptobenzyl sulfonate in particular may favour its selection as NCL catalyst in many instances.

Peptide and protein thioesters are playing an increasingly prominent role in the chemical toolbox for protein assembly and modification through Native Chemical Ligation (NCL). In this Emerging Area we highlight recent developments in a somewhat surprising route to thioesters: selective disruption of amides, the more stable carboxylic acid derivatives.

Sugars and simplified oligosaccharide “mimics” can be joined with protein fragments at pre-defined sites using reliable chemical reactions such as thiol alkylation and Cu(I) catalysed azide/acetylene ligation (click chemistry). These fragments have the potential to be assembled into neoglycoprotein therapeutics using native chemical ligation.

Peptides and proteins fragment sequence-specifically in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid to afford thioesters which can be used in native chemical ligation reactions.

Peptide thioesters readily prepared through N→S acyl transfer of a specific C-terminal motif provide access to biologically active mini-proteins using native chemical ligation.

Understanding the factors that influence N → S acyl transfer in native peptide sequences, and discovery of new reagents that facilitate it, will be key to expanding its scope and applicability. Here, through a study of short model peptides in thioester formation and cyclisation reactions, we demonstrate that a wider variety of Xaa-Cys motifs than originally envisaged are capable of undergoing efficient N → S acyl transfer. We present data for the relative rates of thioester formation and cyclisation for a representative set of amino acids, and show how this expanded scope can be applied to the production of the natural protease inhibitor Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1).

Selective protein cleavage at methionine residues is a useful method for the production of bacterially derived protein fragments containing an N-terminal cysteine residue required for native chemical ligation. Here we describe an optimised procedure for cyanogen bromide-mediated protein cleavage, and ligation of the resulting fragments to afford biologically active proteins.