Se-(8-azidoadenosyl)[75Se]selenomethionine as a photoaffinity label for S-adenosylmethionine binding proteins.

A method is described for the synthesis and purification of the photoaffinity label Se-(8-azidoadenosyl)[75Se]selenomethionine. This photoaffinity label can be used to specifically and covalently label the S-adenosylmethionine binding site of proteins that use this cofactor, as exemplified by labeling of thioether methyltransferase. By utilizing the gamma-emitting isotope of selenium, Se-(8-azidoadenosyl)[75Se]selenomethionine eliminates the need for the impregnation of acrylamide gels with fluorographic enhancers and dilution of liquid samples into scintillation cocktails, as is required with the commonly used methyl-3H-labeled and 35S-labeled S-(8-azidoadenosyl)methionine.