2-Carboxyethyl Methanethiosulfonate (CAS 92953-12-3)

2-Carboxyethyl methanethiosulfonate (MTS-CE) is a chemical compound that belongs to the family of methanethiosulfonates. It is used as a reagent in protein modification studies and protein engineering. 2-Carboxyethyl methanethiosulfonate contains a carboxyethyl group that can react with thiol (-SH) groups of cysteine residues in proteins, resulting in the formation of a disulfide bond. This modification is reversible and can be used to introduce site-specific changes in protein structure and function. 2-Carboxyethyl methanethiosulfonate is often employed in cysteine-scanning mutagenesis, where specific cysteine residues in a protein are substituted with 2-Carboxyethyl methanethiosulfonate-reactive cysteines. This allows researchers to investigate the role of individual residues in protein function, protein-protein interactions, and conformational changes. The reaction between 2-Carboxyethyl methanethiosulfonate and thiol groups can be controlled by adjusting reaction conditions such as pH and temperature. Additionally, the modification can be reversed by reducing agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) or glutathione, enabling the restoration of the native protein structure.