Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42128888›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

BromoCatch: a self-labelling tag platform for protein modification and live cell imaging.

Maria Rodriguez-Rios, Conner Craigon, Mark A Nakasone, Gajanan Sathe, Adam G Bond, Mark Dorward, Anthony K Edmonds, Mark C Norley, Robert E Arnold, Paul M Wood and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Maria Rodriguez-Rios *Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2434-1603
Conner Craigon *Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8649-6876
Mark A NakasoneCentre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1362-191X
Gajanan SatheCentre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6239-5365
Adam G BondCentre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1271-1032
Mark DorwardCentre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5765-0926
Anthony K EdmondsBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5994-1951
Mark C NorleyBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.
Robert E ArnoldBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4616-222X
Paul M WoodBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.
Stephen J ReynoldsBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.
Joel O Cresser-BrownBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.
Graham P MarshBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0375-5145
Hannah J MapleBio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.
Alessio CiulliCentre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. a.ciulli@dundee.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8654-1670

Funding

Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 875510 (EUbOPEN project)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Visualizing and manipulating proteins in live cells is crucial for studying complex biological processes. Self-labelling protein (SLP) tags such as HaloTag and SNAP-tag are widely used for protein labelling, and new systems are needed to expand multiplexing capabilities and broaden the scope of applications. Here we present BromoCatch, a small ~13 kDa bromodomain (BD)-based SLP platform, engineered with a nucleophilic cysteine for covalent ligand engagement. A structure-based designed library of electrophilic ligands was screened against two cysteine-containing mutants using differential scanning fluorimetry and intact protein mass spectrometry to assess covalent complex formation. We identified a para-acrylamide bumped derivative MR116 and the Brd4-BD2 double mutant L387A,E438C as the optimal protein-ligand pair, and reveal the binding mode through an X-ray co-crystal structure solved to 1.3 Å resolution. BromoCatch demonstrated potent and irreversible cellular target engagement in NanoBRET and residence-time assays. Its versatility was demonstrated through the design of a biotinylated conjugate, PROTAC-based degraders, and fluorescent full-on and "switch-on" probes for ex-cellulo and live-cell imaging, including side-by-side comparison and orthogonality with HaloTag. Together, these results establish BromoCatch as a robust, modular, and orthogonal SLP tool with broad potential for multiplexed labelling and targeted protein manipulation.

Indexed as

Staining and LabelingTranscription FactorsBromodomain Containing ProteinsCell Cycle ProteinsCrystallography, X-RayCysteineHumansLigandsProtein BindingProtein EngineeringProteolysis Targeting ChimeraBRD4 protein, humanBromodomain Containing ProteinsCell Cycle ProteinsCysteineLigandsProteolysis Targeting ChimeraTranscription Factors

Identifiers

PMID42128888
PMCPMC13376172

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.