Labeling of cysteine-containing peptides with 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid

A method for specific labeling of cysteine-containing peptides has been developed using Ellman's reagent, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Prior to cleavage with proteases or chemical reagents, proteins are reacted with DTNB, resulting in the formation of a mixed disulfide between the protein sulfhydryl group and 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid (TNB). The formation of the mixed disulfide introduces a chromophore, with an absorbance peak at 328 nm. By monitoring peptide maps generated by HPLC at 210 and 328 nm, peptides containing cysteine residues are readily identified. The stability of the derivative was tested using glutathione-TNB as a model compound. Glutathione-TNB is stable to conditions used for CNBr cleavage, as well as those for tryptic cleavage. The TNB label may also increase the hydrophobicity of small peptides, which otherwise might not bind to reverse-phase matrices. This was the case for an oxidatively modified tetrapeptide isolated from Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase.