Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Chemical Posttranslational Modification with Designed Rhodium(II) Catalysts
S C Martin1, M B Minus1, Z T Ball1
1Rice University, Houston, TX, United States.
Rhodium(II) catalysts mimic natural enzymes, enabling selective protein modification using molecular recognition. This breakthrough offers new tools for studying protein interactions and creating novel protein conjugates.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Natural enzymes exhibit high selectivity in modifying biomolecules.
- Molecular recognition is key to enzyme specificity.
- Developing synthetic catalysts with similar selectivity is a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop synthetic catalysts that mimic enzymatic selectivity for protein modification.
- To explore the use of rhodium(II) catalysts with diazo reagents for protein functionalization.
- To assess the applicability of this method in complex biological environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized rhodium(II) catalysts for selective protein modification.
- Employed functionalized diazo reagents for targeted chemical transformations.
- Tested the catalytic system across diverse protein folds and in cell lysate.
- Assessed modification efficiency using a protein blot method.
Main Results:
- Rhodium(II) catalysts demonstrated molecular recognition for selective protein modification.
- The catalytic system proved effective on various protein structures.
- Successful application was achieved in complex environments like cell lysate.
- A simple protein blot method accurately quantified modification.
Conclusions:
- Rhodium(II) catalysts offer a novel tool for probing protein-binding events.
- This methodology provides a new synthetic route to protein conjugates.
- Potential applications include medical, biochemical, and materials science.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Protein Modifications in the RER
Broadly, these modifications can be categorized into four main categories — glycosylation, formation of disulfide bonds, assembly of protein subunits, and specific proteolytic cleavages like removal of signal...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide

