Synthesis and application of novel bifunctional spin labels

The synthesis of new bifunctional spin-labeled cross-linking reagents is described. Covalent attachment to papain was achieved via a thiol-specific thiosulfonate residue and, for the second anchor point, via a nonspecific photoreactive azido function. The thiosulfonate formed a reversible disulfide linkage, which could be cleaved again reductively by dithiothreitol. The spin label, a pyrroline-1-oxyl radical, was highly immobilized after attachment to papain by both functional groups and showed little if any relative motion with respect to the protein.