Investigation of site-specific metal-catalyzed oxidation of proteins using dipeptides as model compounds /

Abstract

Although oxidative damage to proteins has been a subject of intense investigation, very little has been elucidated regarding the site-specificity of this damage due to reactive oxygen species. The extremely reactive hydroxyl radical should cause damage to the polypeptide in the vicinity of its reaction with metal ions bound to the chain. This paper investigates the site-specificity of metal-catalyzed oxidation of dipeptides using metal ions and hydrogen peroxide to generate the hydroxyl radical. A variety of conditions (different dipeptides, metal ions, temperatures and pH) were explored. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography were used to monitor reactions. Purification of reaction products was attempted through lyophilization. Endeavors to separate the mixture after reaction used percolation column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography.