Selective protein N-terminal labeling with N-hydroxysuccinimide esters

In order to gain detailed insight into the biochemical behavior of proteins, researchers have developed chemical tools to incorporate new functionality into proteins beyond the canonical 20 amino acids. Important considerations regarding effective chemical modification of proteins include chemoselectivity, near stoichiometric labeling, and reaction conditions that maintain protein stability. Taking these factors into account, we discuss an N-terminal labeling strategy that employs a simple two-step “one-pot” method using N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters. The first step converts a R-NHS ester into a more chemoselective R-thioester. The second step reacts the in situ generated R-thioester with a protein that harbors an N-terminal cysteine to generate a new amide bond. This labeling reaction is selective for the N-terminus with high stoichiometry. Herein, we provide a detailed description of this method and further highlight its utility with a large protein (> 100 kDa) and labeling with a commonly used cyanine dye.