This study was supported by a Merit Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and an NIH grant R01CA138528 to RW.

1. Preparation of Expression Constructs
<ol>
	<li>Before starting the protocol, clone PRMTs into mammalian expression vectors with an N-terminal epitope tag (Myc or HA), and the substrate in-frame with glutathione-S-transferase (GST) for high-level protein expression and purification from bacterial cell lysates, using standard molecular biological techniques.</li>
</ol>
2. Purification of PRMTs
<ol>
	<li>Use 100 mm culture dishes to maintain human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas2B). Passage t...

<ol>
	<li>Paik, W. K., Kim, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+methylase+I.+Purification+and+properties+of+the+enzyme.">Protein methylase I. Purification and properties of the enzyme.</a> J Biol Chem. 243, 2108-2114 (1968).</li><li>Lin, W. J., Gary, J. D., Yang, M. C., Clarke, S., Herschman, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mammalian+immediate-early+TIS21+protein+and+the+leukemia-associated+BTG1+protein+interact+with+a+protein-arginine+N-methyltransferase.">The mammalian immediate-early TIS21 protein and the leukemia-associated BTG1 protein interact with a protein-arginine N-methyltransferase.</a> J Biol Chem. 271, 15034-15044 (1996).</li><li>Boffa, L. C., Karn, J., Vidali, G., Allfrey, V. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distribution+of+NG,+NG,-dimethylarginine+in+nuclear+protein+fractions.">Distribution of NG, NG,-dimethylarginine in nuclear protein fractions.</a> Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 74, 969-976 (1977).</li><li>Bedford, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arginine+methylation+at+a+glance.">Arginine methylation at a glance.</a> J Cell Sci. 120, 4243-4246 (2007).</li><li>Lee, Y. H., Stallcup, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Minireview:+protein+arginine+methylation+of+nonhistone+proteins+in+transcriptional+regulation.">Minireview: protein arginine methylation of nonhistone proteins in transcriptional regulation.</a> Mol Endocrinol. 23, 425-433 (2009).</li><li>Bedford, M. T., Clarke, S. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+arginine+methylation+in+mammals:+who,+what,+and+why.">Protein arginine methylation in mammals: who, what, and why.</a> Mol Cell. 33, 1-13 (2009).</li><li>Bikkavilli, R. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dishevelled3+is+a+novel+arginine+methyl+transferase+substrate.">Dishevelled3 is a novel arginine methyl transferase substrate.</a> Scientific reports. 2, 805 (2012).</li><li>Bikkavilli, R. K., Malbon, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arginine+methylation+of+G3BP1+in+response+to+Wnt3a+regulates+{beta}-catenin+mRNA.">Arginine methylation of G3BP1 in response to Wnt3a regulates {beta}-catenin mRNA.</a> J Cell Sci. 124, 2310-2320 (2011).</li><li>Bikkavilli, R. K., Malbon, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wnt3a-stimulated+LRP6+phosphorylation+is+dependent+upon+arginine+methylation+of+G3BP2.">Wnt3a-stimulated LRP6 phosphorylation is dependent upon arginine methylation of G3BP2.</a> J Cell Sci. , (2012).</li><li>Tini, M., Naeem, H., Torchia, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biochemical+analysis+of+arginine+methylation+in+transcription.">Biochemical analysis of arginine methylation in transcription.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 523, 235-247 (2009).</li><li>Lee, J., Cheng, D., Bedford, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Techniques+in+protein+methylation.">Techniques in protein methylation.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 284, 195-208 (2004).</li><li>Cheng, D., Vemulapalli, V., Bedford, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methods+applied+to+the+study+of+protein+arginine+methylation.">Methods applied to the study of protein arginine methylation.</a> Methods Enzymol. 512, 71-92 (2012).</li><li>Zurita-Lopez, C. I., Sandberg, T., Kelly, R., Clarke, S. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+protein+arginine+methyltransferase+7+(PRMT7)+is+a+type+III+enzyme+forming+omega-NG-monomethylated+arginine+residues.">Human protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) is a type III enzyme forming omega-NG-monomethylated arginine residues.</a> J Biol Chem. 287, 7859-7870 (2012).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The protocol described herein is routinely used to establish the methylation status of the identified PRMT substrates. This robust, and consistent assay will also provide definitive evidence on the specificity of PRMTs for their substrates. The key components for the success of this assay are: 1. Expression of PRMTs in mammalian cells, 2. Activity of purified PRMTs, 3. Expression and purification of substrate, and 4. Complete western transfer of the proteins to the nitrocellulose membrane.
Rec...

Protein methylation was first described in 19681. It was not until the first cloning of PRMT1 in 1996, that researchers began to appreciate the importance of this post-translational modification2. Interestingly, about 2% of arginine residues in the proteins of nuclear extracts are methylated3, indicating the abundance of this modification. Arginine is a positively charged amino acid with a basic side chain and the nitrogen/s within the side chains of arginine can be post-translationally modified via the addition of a methyl group, a process known as arginine methylation4-6. Arginine methylation is catalyzed by a class of enzymes viz., protein arginine methyl transferases (PRMTs). Arginines can either be monomethylated or dimethylated and the latter can be either symmetric or asymmetric depending on the type of PRMTs catalyzing the process4-6.
Proteins that display arginine-glycine rich motifs are potential targets for PRMT-mediated catalysis. PRMT-mediated methylation of substrates has been shown to modulate protein-protein interaction, protein-nucleic acid interaction, protein function, gene expression, and/or cellular signaling, all of which are critical for normal cellular homeostasis7-9. In order to understand the biological role of protein arginine methylation, precise, efficient, and reproducible assays are required to establish the methylation status of the identified PRMT substrates.
In vitro methylation assay, which evaluates the abilities of purified PRMTs to catalyze methylation of their substrates, is a well-accepted assay for studying arginine methylation10-12. The overall success of this assay largely depends upon the activity of the purified PRMTs. PRMTs can be expressed and purified from bacteria, or mammalian cells10,11. This in vitro methylation assay, as detailed in the protocol section, is based upon a method originally described by Tini and colleagues10. In this protocol, we show in detail the steps involved in the expression and purification of PRMT1 in mammalian cells. The ability of the purified PRMT1 to catalyze methylation on Ras-GTPase activating protein binding protein 1 (G3BP1), a known PRMT substrate8, was later evaluated in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine as the methyl donor. Using this assay, we can reliably define the abilities of the PRMTs to methylate novel or known substrates, which is a primary step in the study of protein arginine methylation.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:259px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine</td>
			<td>Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ecoscint ultra&#160;</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bottle top dispenser</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-900</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">AutoFluor</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-315</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">6 ml Scintillation Vials</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>SKU:SVC-06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">GST-sepharose</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">GE Life Sciences</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">L-Glutathione Reduced</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">G4251</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Lipofectamine</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td>Transfection reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Beas2B</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Optimem</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">NP-40</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">US-Biologicals</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">SDS</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Sodium deoxycholate</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">PMSF</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">anti-HA affinity matrix</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Roche</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Tris</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Nacl</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Bio-rad gel doc</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Bio Rad</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">anti-HA antibody</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">roche</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Ponseau S</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

in vitro methylation assay to study protein arginine methylation

Protein arginine methylation is one of the most abundant post-translational modifications in the nucleus. Protein arginine methylation can be identified and/or determined via proteomic approaches, and/or immunoblotting with methyl-arginine specific antibodies. However, these techniques sometimes can be misleading and often provide false positive results. Most importantly, these techniques cannot provide direct evidence in support of the PRMT substrate specificity. In vitro methylation assays, on the other hand, are useful biochemical assays, which are sensitive, and consistently reveal if the identified proteins are indeed PRMT substrates. A typical in vitro methylation assay includes purified, active PRMTs, purified substrate and a radioisotope labeled methyl donor (S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine). Here we describe a step-by-step protocol to isolate catalytically active PRMT1, a ubiquitously expressed PRMT family member. The methyl transferase activities of the purified PRMT1 were later tested on Ras-GTPase activating protein binding protein 1 (G3BP1), a known PRMT substrate, in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine as the methyl donor. This protocol can be employed not only for establishing the methylation status of novel physiological PRMT1 substrates, but also for understanding the basic mechanism of protein arginine methylation.

The abilities of HA-PRMT1 to methylate GST-G3BP1 were determined by an in vitro methylation assay. HA-tagged PRMT1 purified from Beas2B cell lysates was employed in a methylation reaction containing GST-G3BP1, and 1 &#956;Ci of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine, as a methyl donor. PRMT1 could efficiently catalyze the methylation of GST-G3BP1 (Figure 1, upper panel). Methylation reactions using pull-downs performed on lysates of empty vector transfected Beas2B cells served as a negat...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In vitro Methylation Assay to Study Protein Arginine Methylation at JoVE.com

In vitro Methylation Assay to Study Protein Arginine Methylation

Protein arginine methylation, catalyzed by a class of enzymes viz., protein arginine methyl transferases (PRMTs), is the process of enzymatic addition of methyl group(s) to arginines within proteins. The in vitro methylation assay is the most dependable tool for assessing the methylation status of known or novel PRMT substrates.

In vitro Methylation Assay to Study Protein Arginine Methylation

Protein arginine methylation is one of the most abundant post-translational modifications in the nucleus. Protein arginine methylation can be identified ...

in-vitro-methylation-assay-to-study-protein-arginine-methylation

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Biology

15.0K vistas.  University of Illinois at Chicago.  Proteína arginina metilación, catalizada por una clase de enzimas viz., La proteína arginina metil transferasas (PRMTs), es el proceso de adición enzimática de grupo (s) metilo para argininas dentro de las proteínas. El ensayo de metilación in vitro es la herramienta más fiable para evaluar el estado de metilación de sustratos PRMT conocidos o nuevos. 