Adipocyte protein modification by Krebs cycle intermediates and fumarate ester-derived succination

• DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1568-z
• Publication Date: 2013-07-27T07:33:10Z
• Authors: Allison M. Manuel; Norma Frizzell
• Keywords: Succinylation; Chemical modification; Saponification; Fumaric acid; Amide; Metabolic intermediate

Protein succination, the non-enzymatic modification of cysteine residues by fumarate, is distinguishable from succinylation, an enzymatic reaction forming an amide bond between lysine residues and succinyl-CoA. Treatment of adipocytes with 30 mM glucose significantly increases protein succination with only a small change in succinylation. Protein succination may be significantly increased intracellularly after treatment with fumaric acid esters, however, the ester must be removed by saponification to permit 2SC-antibody detection of the fumarate adduct.