Chemical Properties
Dithiothreitol (DTT), also known as Cleland's reagent, is a small-molecule redox reagent . Its oxidized form is a disulfide-bonded 6-membered ring. DTT has an epimeric ('sister') compound, dithioerythritol (DTE).
DTT is a white crystalline powder. It is highly soluble in water (clear solution, OD<0.05 at 0.02M), but also in ethanol, chloroform, ether and ethyl acetate.
DTT is an unusually strong reducing agent, with a redox potential of -0.33 V at pH 7. The pKa of thiol groups is typically ~8.3.
The reduction of a typical disulfide bond proceeds by two sequential thiol-disulfide exchange reactions.
Application
Dithiothreitol (DTT) is a water-soluble reducing reagent used for various applications in biotechnology, biology and biochemistry :
reduces quantitatively disulfides, generating sulfhydryls (used typically at 1-10mM for protein SS reduction)
reduction of proteins before SDS-PAGE analysis, studies of protein structure and function (Kaji 1993)
keep sulfhydryl groups of biomolecules in the reduced state - protects biomolecules in various applications (enzymes or receptors, living cells under ionizing radiations)
prevents the fading of fluorescence such as FITC labeled conjugates (Picciolo 1984)
Definition
ChEBI: 1,4-dithiothreitol is the threo-diastereomer of 1,4-dimercaptobutane-2,3-diol. It has a role as a reducing agent, a chelator and a human metabolite. It is a dithiol and a 1,4-dimercaptobutane-2,3-diol.
General Description
1,4-Dithiothreitol (DTT) is the threo isomer of 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dithiolbutane, and an isomer of 1,4-dithioerythritol. DTT is used in molecular biology to maintain sulfhydryl (-SH) groups in the reduced state and for quantitative reduction of disulfide (-S-S-) groups, as described by Cleland in his pioneering publication from the 1960's. Its usefulness as an reducing agent stems from its water solubility and reduced odor compared to previous thiol compounds.
DTT is oxidized to the cyclic disulfide, and thereby ensures the reduction of other disulfides in solution. The disulfide reduction is complete in minutes at pH 8. DTT is less pungent and less toxic than 2-mercaptoethanol. Typically, a 7-fold lower concentration of DTT (100 mM) is required compared to 2-mercaptoethanol (5% v/v, 700 mM).
Biochem/physiol Actions
DL-Dithiothreitol denatures proteins by reducing the disulphide bonds and reducing them to SH groups. It also prevents intramolecular and intermolecular disulfide bond formation between cysteine residues of proteins.
References
[1] Yiwen Wang . “Toxicity of Dithiothreitol (DTT) to Drosophila melanogaster.” Toxicology Reports 8 (2021): Pages 124-130.
Toxicology
The thiol-containing compound Dithiothreitol (DTT) is toxic to cultured cells by inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species that ultimately cause cell death. DTT treatment triggers the transcription of the canonical apoptosis regulators grim, hid, and rpr at low amounts. The amplitude of this induction declines with elevating DTT amounts. Through Live microscopy, Wang et al. have observed apoptotic cells, especially in the gut of DTT-treated flies. In parallel, low DTT amounts also activate the expression of the cuticle barrier component gene snsl. This indicates that a physical defense response is launched upon DTT contact. This combined measure is seemingly successful in preventing fly death. The expression of several known detoxification genes, including cyp6a2, cyp6a8, cyp12d1, and GstD2, is also enhanced through DTT contact[1].
Synthesis
The most widely used DL-Dithiothreitol (DTT) synthetic method is to be raw material with Soviet Union's moss sugar alcohol, use potassium permanganate oxidation earlier, obtains the sulfo-intermediate again under the thioacetic acid effect, and this sulfo-intermediate of hydrolysis obtains DTT at last.
Yu discloses a synthesizing method of DL-Dithiothreitol.1,4-butylene glycol is used as an initiating raw material and undergoes an addition reaction with bromine at first to obtain 2,3-dibromo-1,4-butylene glycol; hydrolyzation under the catalyzation of alkali is carried out to obtain dioxirane; addition reaction with thioacetic acid is carried out to obtain dithiothreitol diacetate; and finally hydrolyzation under the catalyzation of alkali is carried out to obtain the DL-Dithiothreitol.
storage
Store lyophilized at 4°C, desiccated. In lyophilized form, the chemical is stable for 12 months. Once in solution, store at -20°C and use within 3 months to prevent loss of potency. Aliquot to avoid multiple freeze/thaw cycles.
DTT solutions should be prepared fresh daily. If improperly stored (including room temperature and solution forms) its reducing ability may be reduced. Exposure to air should be minimized, even though DTT has a lower tendency to be oxidized directly by air than other reducing agents.
Recorded half-life of DTT solutions at various pH and temperatures (all are in M potassium phosphate buffer):
pH 6.5 @ 20°C= 40 hours
pH 7.5 @ 20°C = 10 hours
pH 8.5 @ 20°C = 1.4 hours
pH 8.5 @ 0°C = 11 hours
pH 8.5 @ 40°C = 0.2 hours
pH 8.5 @20°C (+0.1 mM Cu2+) = 0.6 hours
pH 8.5 @20°C (+0.1 mM EDTA) = 4 hours
