1,10-Phenanthroline, Monohydrate

1,10-phenanthroline (o-phenanthroline) is a chelator with high affinity for divalent metal ions. When complexed with copper, it possesses nuclease activity that has been used to study DNA-protein interactions. While not specific for DUBs, it has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of JAMM-type isopeptidases through chelation of the active site Zn²⁺ ion. As such, o-phenanthroline is widely used when preparing cell lysates for enrichment of proteins bearing K63-linked polyubiquitin chains which are especially sensitive to DUBs in the JAMM family.