Electrochemical modifications of proteins. 1. Glycitolation.

When an electrochemical method is tentatively applied for N-alkylation of proteins, some Maillard reactions occur on the counter electrode. A low level of reductive N-alkylation of casein was obtained on a cathodic electrode, but the method unfortunately remains poorly efficacious in comparison with those using a hydride donor such as sodium cyanoborohydride. Electroassisted reductive N-alkylation is suitable only for basic proteins such as histones or lysozyme.