An acyloxymethyl ketone-based probe to monitor the activity of glutathionylspermidine amidase in Escherichia coli.

Cellular redox conditions affect Gsp amidase activity in Escherichia coli. Guided by the structure and catalytic mechanism of the amidase, we designed and synthesized an acyloxymethyl ketone-based activity probe containing a biotin handle. This probe was used to monitor Gsp amidase activity in E. coli lysates that had been subjected to oxidative or methylglyoxal-induced stress.