Site-specific binding of quinones to proteins through thiol addition and addition-elimination reactions

Ubiquinone-0, menaquinone-0, and 2,3,5-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone were site-specifically bound to free cysteine of proteins (yeast iso-1 cytochrome c as a model protein) through thioether bond formation. Model thioether quinone conjugates showed unexpected reactivity to cysteine of proteins as their parent quinones by thiol addition-elimination reaction. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the model compounds showed only minor differences in their redox potentials as compared to their parent quinones. Thioether ligation provides a general, simple, and fast method to construct model quinone protein systems. In addition, these studies also contribute to the understanding of biological activities, toxicity, and anti-cancer mechanism of quinones and thioether quinone adducts.