A one-step selective fluorescence turn-on detection of cysteine and homocysteine based on a facile CdTe/CdS quantum dots–phenanthroline system

In this paper, we report a simple, selective, sensitive and low-cost turn-on photoluminescent sensor for cysteine and homocysteine based on the fluorescence recovery of the CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs)–phenanthroline (Phen) system. In the presence of Phen, the fluorescence of QDs could be quenched effectively due to the formation of the non-fluorescent complexes between water-soluble thioglycolic acid (TGA)-capped QDs and Phen. Subsequently, upon addition of cysteine and homocysteine, the strong affinity of cysteine and homocysteine to QDs enables Phen to be dissociated from the surface of QDs and to form stable and luminescent complexes with cysteine and homocysteine in solution. Thus, the fluorescence of CdTe/CdS QDs was recovered gradually. A good linear relationship was obtained from 1.0 to 70.0 μM for cysteine and from 1.0 to 90.0 μM for homocysteine, respectively. The detection limits of cysteine and homocysteine were 0.78 and 0.67 μM, respectively. In addition, the method exhibited a high selectivity for cysteine and homocysteine over the other substances, such as amino acids, thiols, proteins, carbohydrates, etc. More importantly, the sensing system can not only achieve quantitative detection of cysteine and homocysteine but also could be applied in semiquantitative cysteine and homocysteine determination by digital visualization. Therefore, as a proof-of-concept, the proposed method has potential application for the selective detection of cysteine and homocysteine in biological fluids.     

Desulfurization of cysteine‐containing peptides resulting from sample preparation for protein characterization by mass spectrometry

In this study, we have examined two cysteine modifications resulting from sample preparation for protein characterization by mass spectrometry (MS): (1) a previously observed conversion of cysteine into dehydroalanine, now found in the case of disulfide mapping and (2) a novel modification corresponding to conversion of cysteine into alanine. Using model peptides, the conversion of cysteine into dehydroalanine via β‐elimination of a disulfide bond was seen to result from the conditions of typical tryptic digestion (37°C, pH 7.0–9.0) without disulfide reduction and alkylation. Furthermore, the surprising conversion of cysteine into alanine was shown to occur by heating cysteine‐containing peptides in the presence of a phosphine (tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP)). The formation of alanine from cysteine, investigated by performing experiments in H₂O or D₂O, suggested a radical‐based desulfurization mechanism unrelated to β‐elimination. Importantly, an understanding of the mechanism and conditions favorable for cysteine desulfurization provides insight for the establishment of improved sample preparation procedures of protein analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel cysteine proteinase inhibitors homologous to the proregions of cysteine proteinases

Propeptides of papain-like cysteine proteinases such as papain, cathepsins B, L and S are potent inhibitors of their cognate cysteine proteinases with Ki values in the nanomolar range, and they exhibit highest inhibition selectivity for enzymes from which they originate. Recent studies have identified novel inhibitor proteins that are homologous to the proregions of papain-like cysteine proteinases. Mouse activated T-lymphocytes express cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA-2), which is homologous to the proregion of mouse cathepsin L. CTLA-2 exhibits inhibitory activities to several cysteine proteinases. We have also identified a similar propeptide-like cysteine proteinase inhibitor, Bombyx cysteine proteinase inhibitor (BCPI), in the silkmoth Bombyx mori. BCPI is a slow and tight binding inhibitor of cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinases with Ki values in picomolar range, and the inhibition is highly selective towards these proteinases just like the propeptides. Recent genome analyses have shown the expression of similar propeptide-like proteins in Drosophila and rat, suggesting the presence of a novel class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors in a variety of organisms. Studies of the gene structures and phylogenetic analysis have shown that genes of the propeptide-like cysteine proteinase inhibitors have emerged from ancestor genes of their parental enzymes.     

A fluorescence turn-on probe for the detection of thiol-containing amino acids in aqueous solution and bioimaging in cells

A turn-on fluorescent probe, based on a water-soluble terphenyl derivative, for the detection of cysteine and homocysteine is reported. The aldehyde groups in the probe play crucial roles in providing reaction with thiol groups in the amino acids, leading to a formation of thiazolidine (from cysteine) or thiazinane ring (from homocysteine). As a result, the new formation of such rings alters the electronic property of the conjugated system in the probe and results in emission enhancement. The probe in aqueous solution exhibits a remarkable increase in its quantum yield upon exposure to cysteine (up to 20-fold) and to homocysteine (up to 700-fold), while slight quenching is observed in the presence of glutathione. Moreover, an investigation on time-resolved fluorescence spectra of the probe in the presence of cysteine and homocysteine reveals potential discriminatory detection of cysteine and homocysteine. Bioimaging of the thiols in live HeLa cells was successfully applied.     

Determination of cysteine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection after pre-column derivatization with 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide

This paper describes the development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method with isocratic conditions for the analysis of total cysteine in human plasma. The essential steps in the assay include derivatization of cysteine via thiol group with 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide (CMPI), separation of the formed cysteine S-pyridinium derivative from endogenous thiol derivatives, usually present in biological samples, by ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC, and ultraviolet detection. Free cystine and protein-bound cysteine are converted to their reduced counterpart by the use of 2-mercaptoethanol. The standard curve is linear over the concentration range from 20 to 300 nmol ml(-1). The recoveries are from 93.9 to 105.9% and imprecision was at most 2.5%. Optimal conditions are determined for all steps of the analytical procedure.     

Effective detection of peptides containing cysteine sulfonic acid using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and laser desorption/ionization on porous silicon mass spectrometry

Cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides, being typical acidic peptides, exhibit low response in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. In this study, matrix conditions and the effect of diammonium hydrogencitrate (DAHC) as additive were investigated for ionization of cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides in MALDI. A matrix-free ionization method, desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS), was also utilized to evaluate the effect of DAHC. When equimolar three-component mixtures of peptides carrying free cysteine, cysteine sulfonic acid, and carbamidomethyl cysteine were measured by MALDI using a common matrix, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), no signal corresponding to cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptide could be observed in the mass spectrum. However, by addition of DAHC to CHCA, the peaks of cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides were successfully observed, as well as when using 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) and 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone with DAHC. In the DIOS mass spectra of these analytes, the use of DAHC also enhanced the peak intensity of the cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides. On the basis of studies with these model peptides, tryptic digests of oxidized peroxiredoxin 6 were examined as a complex peptide mixture by MALDI and DIOS. In MALDI, the peaks of cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides were observed when using THAP/DAHC as the matrix, but this was not so with CHCA. In DIOS, the signal from cysteine sulfonic acid-containing peptides was suppressed; however, the use of DAHC significantly enhanced the signal intensity with an increase in the number of observed peptides and increased signal-to-noise ratio in the DIOS spectra. The results show that DAHC in the matrix or on the DIOS chip decreases discrimination and suppression effects in addition to suppressing alkali-adduct ions, which leads to a beneficial effect on protonation of peptides containing cysteine sulfonic acid.     

Estimation of Coupling Rate Constant of L‐Cysteine Radical Studied by Concentration‐Step Coulometry Using Porous Carbon Felt Electrode Impregnated with an Electrolyte

Controlled potential coulometry using carbon felt electrode impregnated with electrolytic solution realizes very rapid complete electrolysis and can be used to measure the faster reaction rate constant than that using conventional electrolytic cell. In this research, concentration step method was adopted to investigate coupling reaction rate of L ‐cysteine radical. The coupling reaction rate of L ‐cysteine radical becomes much larger than further electrode reaction rate of L ‐cysteine radical at high L ‐cysteine concentration, because the coupling reaction rate is proportional to the second order of L ‐cysteine radical concentration although the further electrode reaction rate is proportional to the first order of L ‐cysteine radical concentration. At a low constant potential value, apparent number of electrons (n_app) increased from 1 (L ‐cystine is produced) to 2 (L ‐cysteine sulfenic acid, RSOH, may be produced) according to decrease in concentration of L ‐cysteine to be electrolyzed. The second order rate constant of coupling reaction was estimated to be about 1200 dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 at 20 °C by curve fitting method for n_app vs. logarithm of L ‐cysteine concentration. Apparent number of electrons (n_app) consumed in the electrode oxidation of L ‐cysteine gradually increased as an applied potential increases, because the consecutive electrode reaction steps with different electrode reaction rates were involved in the electrode oxidation of L ‐cysteine. In the present method, the constant limited electrolytic current was observed at high electrode potential range, which suggests that electrode oxidation rate of L ‐cysteine is kinetically controlled.     

Reactive sulfur species: kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation of cysteine by hypohalous acid to give cysteine sulfenic acid

Cysteine sulfenic acid has been generated in alkaline aqueous solution by oxidation of cysteine with hypohalous acid (HOX, X = Cl or Br). The kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation reaction and the subsequent reactions of cysteine sulfenic acid have been studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry between pH 10 and 14. Two reaction pathways were observed: (1) below pH 12, the condensation of two sulfenic acids to give cysteine thiosulfinate ester followed by the nucleophilic attack of cysteinate on cysteine thiosulfinate ester and (2) above pH 10, a pH-dependent fast equilibrium protonation of cysteine sulfenate that is followed by rate-limiting comproportionation of cysteine sulfenic acid with cysteinate to give cystine. The observation of the first reaction suggests that the condensation of cysteine sulfenic acid to give cysteine thiosulfinate ester can be competitive with the reaction of cysteine sulfenic acid with cysteine.     

Inhibition of copper corrosion in acidic sulphate media by eco-friendly amino acid compound

This investigation aimed to study a “green” non-toxic biodegradable copper corrosion inhibitor in an acidic sodium sulphate solution. The methods used in the investigation of cysteine as a copper corrosion inhibitor in an acidic sodium sulphate solution were: potentiodynamic measurements, open circuit potential measurements, and chronoamperometric measurements. Optical microscopy was used in addition to electrochemical methods. Potentiodynamic measurements show that cysteine has good inhibitory properties in an acidic medium. Polarisation curves indicate that the presence of cysteine in a sulphate solution decreases the current density and that using various cysteine concentrations results in the formation of a protective film on the surface of the electrode due to the formation of the Cu(I)-cys complex. These results are confirmed by chronoamperometric measurements. Furthermore, it is clear from microphotographs that a protective film does form on copper electrode in the presence of cysteine. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm indicates that cysteine is chemisorbed on the surface of the electrode.     

Amino acid composition analysis of minute amounts of cysteine-containing proteins using 4-(aminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole in combination with HPLC

The simultaneous determination of amino acid composition including cysteine of egg albumin, a model protein containing a/s cysteine residue, is reported. All the thiol groups of the cysteine residue(s) of egg albumin were labelled with 4-(aminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole, a fluorogenic reagent for thiol groups. The labeled egg albumin was hydrolyzed in 6N HCl at 110 degrees C for 24 h. The hydrolysate was lyophilized, derivatized with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole, a fluorogenic reagent for amines, and subjected to HPLC. 18 derivatized amino acids including double labelled cysteine were separated within 90 min on a Nucleosil ODS column (150 mm X 4.6 mm i.d.; 5 microns), and detected at 530 nm (ex. 470 nm) in a range from 90 fmol (aspartic acid) to 1.3 pmol (cysteine) (S/N = 3). Composition ratios of amino acids of egg albumin were similar to theoretical values except for methionine, which would be destroyed under the present acid hydrolysis condition. Analytical methods for cysteine residues are reviewed, and the availability of fluorogenic reagents having the benzofurazan structure is also discussed.     

Chemical interactions between silver nanoparticles and thiols: a comparison of mercaptohexanol against cysteine

The interaction between citrate capped silver nanoparticles and two different thiols, mercaptohexanol(MH) and cysteine, was investigated. The thiols interacted with silver nanoparticles in a significantly contrasting manner. With MH, a sparingly soluble silver(I) thiolate complex AgSRm(Rm = –(CH2)6OH) was formed on the silver nanoparticle surface. Cyclic voltammograms and UV-vis spectra were used to infer that the AgSRm complex on the nanoparticle surface undergoes a phase transition to give a mixture of AgSRm and Ag2S-like complexes. In contrast, when silver nanoparticles were exposed to cysteine, the citrate capping agent on the silver nanoparticles was replaced by cysteine to give cysteine capped nanoparticles. As cysteine capped nanoparticles form, the electrochemical data displayed a decrease in oxidative peak charge but the UV-vis spectra showed a constant signal. Therefore, cysteine capped nanoparticles were suggested to have either inactivated the silver surface or else promoted detachment from the electrode surface.     

Voltammetric and potentiometric study of cysteine at cobalt(II) phthalocyanine modified carbon-paste electrode

Cyclic voltammetry and potentiometry were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of cysteine at a chemically modified electrode prepared by incorporating cobalt(II) phthalocyanine [Co(II)Pc] into carbon paste matrix. The modified electrode showed high electrocatalytic activity toward cysteine; the overpotential for the oxidation of cysteine was decreased by more than 100 mV, and the corresponding peak current increased significantly. The electrocatalytic process was highly dependent on the pH of the supporting electrolyte. The peak currents decreased when the pH was raised to 6 and totally disappeared at pH≥ 7, resulting from the autocatalytic oxidation of cysteine by Co(II)Pc at the electrode surface. Therefore, at pH values of 6 to 8, the modified electrode was used as a potentiometric sensor for quantitative measurement of cysteine in the presence of oxygen in air saturated solutions. In fact, the Co(II)Pc/Co(I)Pc couple acts as a suitable mediator for indirect oxidation of cysteine by dissolved oxygen at approximately neutral pH values. Under the optimized conditions, the potentiometric response of the modified electrode was linear against the concentration of cysteine in the range of 0.6 μM to 2 mM. The limit of detection was found to be 0.5 μM. The potentiometric response time was ≤15 s. The electrode showed long term stability; the standard deviation of the slope obtained after repeated calibration during a period of two months was 2.8% (n = 7). Application of the electrode in a recovery experiment for the determination of cysteine added to a synthetic serum sample is described.     

Simple and sensitive colorimetric detection of cysteine based on ssDNA-stabilized gold nanoparticles

In this paper, we demonstrate a simple and sensitive colorimetric detection of cysteine based on the cysteine-mediated color change of ssDNA-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Cysteine is capable of absorbing onto AuNPs surfaces via the strong interaction between its thiol group and gold. ssDNA molecules which stabilize AuNPs against salt-induced aggregation are removed away by cysteine encapsulation on the AuNPs surfaces, resulting in a characteristic color change of AuNPs from red to blue as soon as salt is added. The ratio of absorptions at 640 to 525 nm (A ₆₄₀/A ₅₂₅) is linear dependent on the cysteine concentration in the range from 0.1 to 5 μM. Furthermore, amino acids other than cysteine cannot mediate the color change under the identical conditions due to the absence of thiol groups, suggesting the selectivity of the proposed method toward cysteine. The employment of complicated protocols and sophisticated processes such as the preparation of modified AuNPs are successfully avoided in design to realize the simple and low-cost cysteine detection; and the high sensitivity and low cost of the method is favorable for practical applications. Figure In the presence of cysteine, cysteine binds to the AuNPs surface via Au-S bond, spontaneously driving ssDNA molecules away from the nanoparticles, which leads to the AuNPs aggregation under the condition of NaCl introduction, and the corresponding color change from red to blue. However, the presence of other amino acids results in no color change due to the absence of thiol groups. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Voltammetric study on interaction of cysteine with type I-collagen in the aqueous medium

Interaction of cysteine with type I-collagen from bovine achilles tendon in the aqueous solutions has been examined using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. In the absence of cysteine, type I-collagen gives a reversible peak at ?0.114 V in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer (pH 4.0). The electrochemical parameters (I _p/f, E _p/f, E _p/pH, I _p/pH, I _p/v, I _p/v^1/2) of type I-collagen have been also studied. In addition, it has been determined that there is a linear relationship between current and concentration of type I-collagen. On the other hand, cysteine exhibits a reversible peak at ?0.383 V due to the reduction of mercurous cysteine thiolate. By using a hanging mercury drop electrode in aqueous solutions, SWV and CV voltammograms obtained for type I-collagen in the presence of cysteine indicate that there is an interaction between type I-collagen and cysteine. In the presence of cysteine, peak current of type I-collagen decreases and a new peak is observed at ?0.121 V for cysteine which is bonded to type I-collagen.     

Electrochemical multi-tagging of cysteinyl peptides during microspray mass spectrometry: numerical simulation of consecutive reactions in a microchannel

On-line electrogeneration of mass tags in a microspray emitter is used to quantify the number of cysteine groups in a given peptide. A finite-element simulation of the multi-step process yields the relative distribution and concentration of tags, untagged and tagged species in the microchannel before the spray event. The work focuses on the tagging of cysteine moieties in peptides or proteins by electrogenerated quinone mass probes. The main chemical parameters determining the kinetics of the labelling are assessed and discussed considering the microfluidic aspects of the process. The control of the tagging extent allows the simultaneous MS analysis of both the unmodified and modified peptide(s). The number of cysteine groups corresponds to the number of characteristic mass shifts observed from the unmodified peptide. The present theoretical work establishes the range of optimum conditions for the determination of the number of cysteine groups in peptides containing up to five cysteine groups.     

A sensitive chemiluminescence method for the determination of cysteine based on silver nanoclusters

We have developed a sensitive chemiluminescent (CL) assay for cysteine. It is based on the use of water-soluble and fluorescent silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) which are found to be able to strongly enhance the weak CL signal resulting from the redox reaction between Ce(IV) ion and sulfite ion. This enhancement is inhibited by cysteine under appropriate conditions. Taking advantage of this specific CL inhibition, a novel CL method for the sensitive and selective detection of cysteine was developed. This effect is interpreted in terms of an electronic energy transfer from excited state intermediate sulfur dioxide (originating from the CL reaction between Ce(IV) and sulfite ions) to the Ag-NCs. The latter become electronically excited and thus can act as a new source of emission. The method was applied to the determination of cysteine in the range from 5.0?nM to 1.0?μM, with a detection limit at 2.5?nM (S/N?=?3).

Bis(dl‐cysteinium) oxalate

In the title compound, 2C₃H₈NO₂S⁺·C₂O₄²⁻, the oxalate anion occupies an inversion centre and is coordinated to cysteine molecules of different chirality (l and d ) via O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, the resulting cysteine–oxalate stoichiometry in the crystal structure being 2:1. The oxalate anion is completely deprotonated, whereas cysteine has a positively charged –NH₃⁺ group and a neutral protonated carboxyl group. The structure is built from infinite hydrogen‐bonded triple layers, consisting of an oxalate layer in the middle with layers of l ‐ and d ‐cysteine molecules on either side. The thiol groups are at the external sides of the layers and form S—H...O hydrogen bonds with the carboxyl groups of neighbouring cysteine molecules. An interesting feature of the structure is the occurrence of short S...S contacts between SH groups of molecules in neighbouring layers, which form not S—H...S but S—H...O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Due to the effects of crystal packing and intermolecular hydrogen‐bond formation, the conformation of the cysteine cation in the title structure is different from that calculated theoretically for an individual cation, as well as from those of cysteine zwitterions in crystals of pure cysteine.     

Synthesis of Peptide Cysteine Dimedone Using Fmoc-Cys(Dmd)-OH: Glutathione Cysteine Dimedone as a Probe in Investigating the Sulfenic Acid Mediated Oxidation of Glutathione

Dimedone is the most widely used chemical probe for detection of cysteine sulfenic acid in peptides and proteins. The reaction of dimedone with cysteine sulfenic acid results in the formation of unique cysteine dimedone motif containing thioether bridge. Based on the structure of cysteine dimedone residue in polypeptide, a new building block of Fmoc-Cys(Dmd)-OH was developed for solid phase synthesis of peptide cysteine dimedone. Mass spectrometric sequencing of synthetic peptides have confirmed successful incorporation of cysteine dimedone in peptide chain using HBTU/HOBt as a coupling agent. The new method permits synthesis of peptides containing both cysteine thiol and cysteine dimedone in the same sequence which was difficult to achieve by conventional methods. The synthetic peptide of glutathione cysteine dimedone was used as a standard in probing the air-mediated oxidation of thiol to disulfide form of glutathione. The co-elution of standard peptide and reaction mixture of oxidation of glutathione in presence of dimedone using RP-HPLC have confirmed the formation of glutathione cysteine sulfenic as an intermediate in the air-mediated oxidation of glutathione. The synthetic peptides of cysteine dimedone may find application in the field of redox proteomics and generation of antibodies against modified cysteine residue.     

Interaction of Methyl Cysteine and Nitrilotriacetate with Transition Metal Ions

In the present work, sulfur-containing amino acid methyl cysteine was studied from the point of view of their coordinating ability with two metal ions, viz. copper(II) and cobalt(II). Solution equilibria of binary (Cu(II)/Co(II)–methyl cysteine and Cu(II)/Co(II)–nitrilotriacetate (NTA)) complex systems are investigated by paper ionophoresis at 35°C, ionic strength I= 0.1 mol/l. In addition to binary complexes, ternary complexes involving nitrilotriacetate and methyl cysteine were also studied. For studying mixed-ligand complexes, the pH of background electrolyte is brought to 8.5 (this pH value is purposely chosen because amino acid and NTA form very stable complexes much ahead of this pH). The stability constants of complexes (Cu(II)–NTA–methyl cysteine and Co(II)–NTA–methyl cysteine) were found to be 4.48 ± 0.07 and 3.55 ± 0.04 (logKvalues), respectively.     

Effect of cysteine on bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation induced by solar ultraviolet (UVA, UVB) irradiation.

Long-term exposure to natural sun-light (UVA, UVB) induced fluorescence and caused disulfide bond formation in bovine serum albumin (BSA). The addition of cysteine enhanced the bond formation to such an extent that a solution of BSA was transformed into an insoluble gel. The disulfide bonds in the gels are derived from internal-SH groups of protein. This reaction occurred even if cysteine was added after exposure to ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation. Fluorescent substances seem to be involved in this reaction. On the other hand, low concentrations of cysteine (less than 5 mM) inhibited both fluorescence and disulfide bond formation. The addition of glutathione to BSA produced the same effect as that of cysteine. The addition of thiourea to BSA solution inhibited fluorescence, but did not inhibit disulfide bond formation. We assume that external-SH compounds such as cysteine and glutathione, which have high reactivity with hydroxyl radicals (.OH), act not only as free-radical scavengers, but also as radical mediators in the polymerization of protein through disulfide cross-links induced by UV-irradiation. Solar UVA as well as UVB irradiation are shown to have the same effect on the protein polymerization.