Fluorinated trimethyllysine as a 19F NMR probe for trimethyllysine hydroxylase catalysis

Abstract

Trimethyllysine hydroxylase (TMLH) catalyses C-3 hydroxylation of N^ε-trimethyllysine in the first step of carnitine biosynthesis in humans. Studies on TMLH have been hampered by the lack of established chemical methods. We report that an N^ε-trimethyllysine analogue that contains the fluoromethyl group can be used as a ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR probe for studies on TMLH catalysis.