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Formaldehyde reacts with N-terminal proline residues to give bicyclic aminals

Abstract:

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a potent electrophile that is toxic above threshold levels, but which is also produced in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells by demethylases. We report studies with the four canonical human histones revealing that histone H2B reacts with HCHO, including as generated by a histone demethylase, to give a stable product. NMR studies show that HCHO reacts with the N-terminal proline and associated amide of H2B to give a 5,5-bicyclic aminal that is relatively stable to competition with HCHO scavengers. While the roles of histone modification by this reaction require further investigation, we demonstrated the potential of N-terminal aminal formation to modulate protein function by conducting biochemical and cellular studies on the effects of HCHO on catalysis by 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase, which employs a nucleophilic N-terminal proline. The results suggest that reactions of N-terminal residues with HCHO and other aldehydes have potential to alter protein function.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s42004-022-00801-5

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Chemistry
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Chemistry
Sub department:
Organic Chemistry
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-8646-062X
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDM
Sub department:
Target Discovery Institute
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Chemistry
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Communications Chemistry More from this journal
Volume:
6
Issue:
1
Article number:
12
Publication date:
2023-01-13
Acceptance date:
2022-12-20
DOI:
EISSN:
2399-3669
Pmid:
36698022


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1324890
Local pid:
pubs:1324890
Deposit date:
2023-03-16
ARK identifier:

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