Method for thiolation and covalent conjugation of target protein

Persulfidation is a unique posttranslational protein modification that protects our cells and proteomes against oxidative stress and ageing. Researchers from the the Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology (Jagiellonian University in Krakow) investigated that this small chemical modification is installed by a cellular protein, called Ubiquitin related modifier 1 (Urm1). Not only, is the pathway activated during oxidative stress, but it is also surprisingly linked to another type of protein modification. The study provides new molecular insights into a previously unrecognized cellular mechanism and indicates that Urm1-based therapeutics could play a significant role in decelerating ageing.

The subject of the offer is a new technology using the thiocarboxylated Urm1 or any other thiocarboxylated protein for persulfidation/thiolation of target proteins that are prone to oxidation, as well as to covalently conjugate to proteins.

Possible applications of the technology:

1.    to attach macromolecular labels (e.g. fluorescence proteins, affinity tags, barcode sequences) covalently to purified proteins or cell extracts
2.    as a sensor for oxidative conditions in aqueous solutions and more heterogenous biological systems (e.g. serum, cell lysates, cultures)
3.    in chemoenzymatic semi synthesis of proteins where an expression of synthetically produced protein can be ligated with a peptide of interest 
4.    reengineering of any existing protein tag to covalently link to protein of interest
5.    reengineering of existing biomarkers with thiocarboxylate to form stable interaction
6.    in biorthogonal chemistry to selectively track oxidation/ persulfidation states of peroxidatic/catalytic cysteines in vivo.

The offered technology is patent pending.

The Centre for Technology Transfer CITTRU is looking for entities interested in licensing and commercial application of described invention. Cooperation with partners interested in joint R&D projects in scientific topic related to the invention is also desirable.

For detailed information please contact: 
Beata Strach 
Phone: +48 571 232 873 
Mail: beata.strach@uj.edu.pl