Traceless Peptide and Protein Modification via Rational Tuning of Pyridiniums

Herein, we report a versatile reaction platform for tracelessly cleavable cysteine-selective peptide/protein modification. This platform offers highly tunable and predictable conjugation and cleavage by rationally estimating the electron effect on the nucleophilic halopyridiniums. Cleavable peptide stapling, antibody conjugation, enzyme masking/de-masking, and proteome labeling were achieved based on this facile pyridinium-thiol-exchange protocol.