The Behavior of Cleavable Crosslinking Reagents Based on the Disulfide Group

Abstract 4,4′‐Bisphenyldiazonium disulfide fluoroborate and dimethyl‐3,3′‐dithiobispropionimidate dihydrochloride were synthesized and tested as reversible cross‐linking reagents. Rabbit muscle aldolase, human hemoglobin and human erythrocyte membrane proteins can be successfully crosslinked by these reagents. The crosslinked products can be cleaved into their components in high yield by thiols, under mild conditions. A simple diagonal sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis technique was developed to identify electrophoretically the components of crosslinked products. The application and possible complications of bifunctional reagents containing disulfide bonds are discussed.