Description
Methanethiosulfonates (MTS) are sulfhydryl-reactive compounds that form mixed disulfide linkages and are commonly used to study cysteine residues on proteins. Sodium (2-sulfonatoethyl)methanethiosulfonate (MTSES) is a negatively-charged, membrane impermeant MTS. It is highly reactive with ionized thiolates but not with unionized thiols and, therefore, targets sulfhydryl groups accessible from the aqueous medium. MTSES is used to probe the structural and functional properties of native proteins, particularly those associated with membranes, including channels and transporters. In addition, charged MTS compounds like MTSES are combined with cysteine scanning mutagenesis to study non-cysteine residues.
Uses
Reacts specifically and rapidly with thiols to form mixed disulfides, Sodium (2-Sulfonatoethyl)methanethiosulfonate can be used to probe the structures of the ACh receptor channel of the GABAA receptor channel and of lactose permease.
