This project received funding from the I-CORE Program of the Planning and Budgeting Committee and the Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 152/11), Marie Curie Reintegration Grant No. PCIG11-GA- 2012-321675, and from the European Union&#39;s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under grant agreement no. 664918 - MRG-Grammar.

1. System Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Design of binding-site plasmids 
	<ol>
		<li>Design the binding site cassette as depicted in Figure 1. Each minigene contains the following parts (5&#39; to 3&#39;): Eagl restriction site, &#8764;40 bases of the 5&#39; end of the kanamycin (Kan) resistance gene, pLac-Ara promoter, ribosome binding site (RBS), AUG of the mCherry gene, a spacer (&#948;), an RBP binding site, 80 bases of the 5&#39; end of the mCherry gene, and an ApaLI restrict...

<ol>
	<li>Cerretti, D. P., Mattheakis, L. C., Kearney, K. R., Vu, L., Nomura, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translational+regulation+of+the+spc+operon+in+Escherichia+coli.+Identification+and+structural+analysis+of+the+target+site+for+S8+repressor+protein.">Translational regulation of the spc operon in Escherichia coli. Identification and structural analysis of the target site for S8 repressor protein.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 204 (2), 309-329 (1988).</li><li>Babitzke, P., Baker, C. S., Romeo, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+translation+initiation+by+RNA+binding+proteins.">Regulation of translation initiation by RNA binding proteins.</a> Annual Review of Microbiology. 63, 27-44 (2009).</li><li>Van Assche, E., Van Puyvelde, S., Vanderleyden, J., Steenackers, H. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA-binding+proteins+involved+in+post-transcriptional+regulation+in+bacteria.">RNA-binding proteins involved in post-transcriptional regulation in bacteria.</a> Frontiers in Microbiology. 6, 141 (2015).</li><li>Chappell, J., Watters, K. E., Takahashi, M. K., Lucks, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+renaissance+in+RNA+synthetic+biology:+new+mechanisms,+applications+and+tools+for+the+future.">A renaissance in RNA synthetic biology: new mechanisms, applications and tools for the future.</a> Current Opinion in Chemical Biology. 28, 47-56 (2015).</li><li>Wagner, T. E., 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=Small-molecule-based+regulation+of+RNA-delivered+circuits+in+mammalian+cells.">Small-molecule-based regulation of RNA-delivered circuits in mammalian cells.</a> Nature Chemical Biology. 14 (11), 1043 (2018).</li><li>Bendak, 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=A+rapid+method+for+assessing+the+RNA-binding+potential+of+a+protein.">A rapid method for assessing the RNA-binding potential of a protein.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 40 (14), e105 (2012).</li><li>Strein, C., Alleaume, A. -. M., Rothbauer, U., Hentze, M. W., Castello, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+versatile+assay+for+RNA-binding+proteins+in+living+cells.">A versatile assay for RNA-binding proteins in living cells.</a> RNA. 20 (5), 721-731 (2014).</li><li>Ule, J., Jensen, K. B., Ruggiu, M., Mele, A., Ule, A., Darnell, R. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CLIP+identifies+Nova-regulated+RNA+networks+in+the+brain.">CLIP identifies Nova-regulated RNA networks in the brain.</a> Science. 302 (5648), 1212-1215 (2003).</li><li>Lee, F. C. Y., Ule, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+CLIP+Technologies+for+Studies+of+Protein-RNA+Interactions.">Advances in CLIP Technologies for Studies of Protein-RNA Interactions.</a> Molecular Cell. 69 (3), 354-369 (2018).</li><li>Katz, N., 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=An+in+Vivo+Binding+Assay+for+RNA-Binding+Proteins+Based+on+Repression+of+a+Reporter+Gene.">An in Vivo Binding Assay for RNA-Binding Proteins Based on Repression of a Reporter Gene.</a> ACS Synthetic Biology. 7 (12), 2765-2774 (2018).</li><li>Watters, K. E., Yu, A. M., Strobel, E. J., Settle, A. H., Lucks, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterizing+RNA+structures+in+vitro+and+in+vivo+with+selective+2&#8217;-hydroxyl+acylation+analyzed+by+primer+extension+sequencing+(SHAPE-Seq).">Characterizing RNA structures in vitro and in vivo with selective 2&#8217;-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension sequencing (SHAPE-Seq).</a> Methods. 103, 34-48 (2016).</li><li>Saito, H., 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=Synthetic+translational+regulation+by+an+L7Ae-kink-turn+RNP+switch.">Synthetic translational regulation by an L7Ae-kink-turn RNP switch.</a> Nature Chemical Biology. 6 (1), 71-78 (2010).</li><li>Gott, J. M., Wilhelm, L. J., Uhlenbeck, O. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA+binding+properties+of+the+coat+protein+from+bacteriophage+GA.">RNA binding properties of the coat protein from bacteriophage GA.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 19 (23), 6499-6503 (1991).</li><li>Peabody, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+RNA+binding+site+of+bacteriophage+MS2+coat+protein.">The RNA binding site of bacteriophage MS2 coat protein.</a> The EMBO Journal. 12 (2), 595-600 (1993).</li><li>Lim, F., Peabody, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA+recognition+site+of+PP7+coat+protein.">RNA recognition site of PP7 coat protein.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 30 (19), 4138-4144 (2002).</li><li>Lim, F., Spingola, M., Peabody, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+RNA-binding+Site+of+Bacteriophage+Q&#946;+Coat+Protein.">The RNA-binding Site of Bacteriophage Q&#946; Coat Protein.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 271 (50), 31839-31845 (1996).</li><li>Gibson, D. G., 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=Enzymatic+assembly+of+DNA+molecules+up+to+several+hundred+kilobases.">Enzymatic assembly of DNA molecules up to several hundred kilobases.</a> Nature Methods. 6 (5), 343-345 (2009).</li><li>. Optimizing Restriction Endonuclease Reactions Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://international.neb.com/tools-and-resources/usage-guidelines/optimizing-restriction-endonuclease-reactions">https://international.neb.com/tools-and-resources/usage-guidelines/optimizing-restriction-endonuclease-reactions</a> (2018)</li><li>. Wizard&#174; SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System Protocol Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://worldwide.promega.com/resources/protocols/technical-bulletins/101/wizard-sv-gel-and-pcr-cleanup-system-protocol/">https://worldwide.promega.com/resources/protocols/technical-bulletins/101/wizard-sv-gel-and-pcr-cleanup-system-protocol/</a> (2018)</li><li>. Ligation Protocol with T4 DNA Ligase (M0202) Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://international.neb.com/protocols/0001/01/01/dna-ligation-with-t4-dna-ligase-m0202">https://international.neb.com/protocols/0001/01/01/dna-ligation-with-t4-dna-ligase-m0202</a> (2018)</li><li>. Routine Cloning Using Top10 Competent Cells - US Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/references/protocols/cloning/competent-cells-protocol/routine-cloning-using-top10-competent-cells.html">https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/references/protocols/cloning/competent-cells-protocol/routine-cloning-using-top10-competent-cells.html</a> (2018)</li><li>. NucleoSpin Plasmid - plasmid Miniprep kit Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mn-net.com/ProductsBioanalysis/DNAandRNApurification/PlasmidDNApurificationeasyfastreliable/NucleoSpinPlasmidplasmidMiniprepkit/tabid/1379/language/en-US/Default.aspx">https://www.mn-net.com/ProductsBioanalysis/DNAandRNApurification/PlasmidDNApurificationeasyfastreliable/NucleoSpinPlasmidplasmidMiniprepkit/tabid/1379/language/en-US/Default.aspx</a> (2018)</li><li>Sanger, F., Coulson, A. R., Barrell, B. G., Smith, A. J. H., Roe, B. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cloning+in+single-stranded+bacteriophage+as+an+aid+to+rapid+DNA+sequencing.">Cloning in single-stranded bacteriophage as an aid to rapid DNA sequencing.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 143 (2), 161-178 (1980).</li><li>. Protocol - How to Create a Bacterial Glycerol Stock Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.addgene.org/protocols/create-glycerol-stock/">https://www.addgene.org/protocols/create-glycerol-stock/</a> (2018)</li><li>. Making your own chemically competent cells Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://international.neb.com/protocols/2012/06/21/making-your-own-chemically-competent-cells">https://international.neb.com/protocols/2012/06/21/making-your-own-chemically-competent-cells</a> (2018)</li><li>. Luria-Bertani (LB) Medium Preparation &#183; Benchling Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://benchling.com/protocols/gdD7XI0J/luria-bertani-lb-medium-preparation">https://benchling.com/protocols/gdD7XI0J/luria-bertani-lb-medium-preparation</a> (2018)</li><li>Delebecque, C. J., Silver, P. A., Lindner, A. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Designing+and+using+RNA+scaffolds+to+assemble+proteins+in+vivo.">Designing and using RNA scaffolds to assemble proteins in vivo.</a> Nature Protocols. 7 (10), 1797-1807 (2012).</li><li>Hocine, S., Raymond, P., Zenklusen, D., Chao, J. A., Singer, R. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-molecule+analysis+of+gene+expression+using+two-color+RNA+labeling+in+live+yeast.">Single-molecule analysis of gene expression using two-color RNA labeling in live yeast.</a> Nature Methods. 10 (2), 119-121 (2013).</li><li>Espah Borujeni, A., 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=Precise+quantification+of+translation+inhibition+by+mRNA+structures+that+overlap+with+the+ribosomal+footprint+in+N-terminal+coding+sequences.">Precise quantification of translation inhibition by mRNA structures that overlap with the ribosomal footprint in N-terminal coding sequences.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 45 (9), 5437-5448 (2017).</li><li>Ding, Y., 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=In+vivo+genome-wide+profiling+of+RNA+secondary+structure+reveals+novel+regulatory+features.">In vivo genome-wide profiling of RNA secondary structure reveals novel regulatory features.</a> Nature. 505, (2013).</li><li>Rouskin, S., Zubradt, M., Washietl, S., Kellis, M., Weissman, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genome-wide+probing+of+RNA+structure+reveals+active+unfolding+of+mRNA+structures+in+vivo.">Genome-wide probing of RNA structure reveals active unfolding of mRNA structures in vivo.</a> Nature. 505 (7485), 701-705 (2014).</li><li>Lucks, J. B., 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=Multiplexed+RNA+structure+characterization+with+selective+2&#8217;-hydroxyl+acylation+analyzed+by+primer+extension+sequencing+(SHAPE-Seq).">Multiplexed RNA structure characterization with selective 2&#8217;-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension sequencing (SHAPE-Seq).</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 108 (27), 11063-11068 (2011).</li><li>Spitale, R. C., 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=Structural+imprints+in+vivo+decode+RNA+regulatory+mechanisms.">Structural imprints in vivo decode RNA regulatory mechanisms.</a> Nature. 519 (7544), 486 (2015).</li><li>Watters, K. E., Abbott, T. R., Lucks, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+characterization+of+cellular+RNA+structure+and+function+with+in-cell+SHAPE-Seq.">Simultaneous characterization of cellular RNA structure and function with in-cell SHAPE-Seq.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 44 (2), e12 (2016).</li><li>Flynn, R. A., 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=Transcriptome-wide+interrogation+of+RNA+secondary+structure+in+living+cells+with+icSHAPE.">Transcriptome-wide interrogation of RNA secondary structure in living cells with icSHAPE.</a> Nature Protocols. 11 (2), 273-290 (2016).</li><li>Bernardi, A., Spahr, P. -. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nucleotide+Sequence+at+the+Binding+Site+for+Coat+Protein+on+RNA+of+Bacteriophage+R17.">Nucleotide Sequence at the Binding Site for Coat Protein on RNA of Bacteriophage R17.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 69 (10), 3033-3037 (1972).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The method described in this article facilitates quantitative in vivo measurement of RBP-RNA binding affinity in E. coli cells. The protocol is relatively easy and can be conducted without the use of sophisticated machinery, and data analysis is straightforward. Moreover, the results are produced immediately, without the relatively long wait-time associated with next generation sequencing (NGS) results.
One limitation to this method is that it works only in bacterial cells. However, a...

RNA binding protein (RBP)-based post-transcriptional regulation, specifically characterization of the interaction between RBPs and RNA, has been studied extensively in recent decades. There are multiple examples of translational down-regulation in bacteria originating from RBPs inhibiting, or directly competing with, ribosome binding1,2,3. In the field of synthetic biology, RBP-RNA interactions are emerging as a significant tool for the design of transcription-based genetic circuits4,5. Therefore, there is an increase in demand for characterization of such RBP-RNA interactions in a cellular context.
The most common methods for studying protein-RNA interactions are the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA)6, which is limited to in vitro settings, and various pull-down assays7, including the CLIP method8,9. While such methods enable the discovery of de novo RNA binding sites, they suffer from drawbacks such as labor-intensive protocols and expensive deep sequencing reactions and may require a specific antibody for RBP pull-down. Due to the susceptible nature of RNA to its environment, many factors can affect RBP-RNA interactions, emphasizing the importance of interrogating RBP-RNA binding in the cellular context. For example, we and others have demonstrated significant differences between RNA structures in vivo and in vitro10,11.
Based on the approach of a previous study12, we recently demonstrated10 that when placing pre-designed binding sites for the capsid RBPs from the bacteriophages GA13, MS214, PP715, and Q&#946;16 in the translation initiation region of a reporter mRNA, reporter expression is strongly repressed. We present a relatively simple and quantitative method, based on this repression phenomenon, to measure the affinity between RBPs and their corresponding RNA binding sites in vivo.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Ampicillin sodium salt</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>A9518</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)</td>
			<td>ALFA AESAR</td>
			<td>33337</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>48 plates</td>
			<td>Axygen</td>
			<td>P-5ML-48-C-S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8- lane plates</td>
			<td>Axygen</td>
			<td>RESMW8I</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well plates</td>
			<td>Axygen</td>
			<td>P-DW-20-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well plates for plate reader</td>
			<td>Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td>6005029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ApaLI</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R0507</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Binding site sequences</td>
			<td>Gen9 Inc. and Twist Bioscience</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>see Table 1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>E. coli TOP10 cells</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C404006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eagl-HF</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R3505</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>glycerol</td>
			<td>BIO LAB</td>
			<td>071205</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>incubator</td>
			<td>TECAN</td>
			<td>liconic incubator</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kanamycin solfate</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>K4000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KpnI- HF</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R0142</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ligase</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>B0202S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>liquid-handling robotic system</td>
			<td>TECAN</td>
			<td>EVO 100, MCA 96-channel</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matlab analysis software</td>
			<td>Mathworks</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>multi- pipette 8 lanes</td>
			<td>Axygen</td>
			<td>BR703710</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-butanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL)</td>
			<td>cayman</td>
			<td>K40982552 019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS buffer</td>
			<td>Biological Industries</td>
			<td>020235A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>platereader</td>
			<td>TECAN</td>
			<td>Infinite F200 PRO</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Q5 HotStart Polymerase</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>M0493</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RBP seqeunces</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>27121 &#38; 40650</td>
			<td>see Table 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SODIUM CHLORIDE (NaCL)</td>
			<td>BIO LAB</td>
			<td>190305</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>A9281</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptone</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>211705</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an assay for quantifying protein-rna binding in bacteria

In the initiation step of protein translation, the ribosome binds to the initiation region of the mRNA. Translation initiation can be blocked by binding of an RNA binding protein (RBP) to the initiation region of the mRNA, which interferes with ribosome binding. In the presented method, we utilize this blocking phenomenon to quantify the binding affinity of RBPs to their cognate and non-cognate binding sites. To do this, we insert a test binding site in the initiation region of a reporter mRNA and induce the expression of the test RBP. In the case of RBP-RNA binding, we observed a sigmoidal repression of the reporter expression as a function of RBP concentration. In the case of no-affinity or very low affinity between binding site and RBP, no significant repression was observed. The method is carried out in live bacterial cells, and does not require expensive or sophisticated machinery. It is useful for quantifying and comparing between the binding affinities of different RBPs that are functional in bacteria to a set of designed binding sites. This method may be inappropriate for binding sites with high structural complexity. This is due to the possibility of repression of ribosomal initiation by complex mRNA structure in the absence of RBP, which would result in lower basal reporter gene expression, and thus less-observable reporter repression upon RBP binding.

The presented method utilizes the competition between an RBP and the ribosome for binding to the mRNA molecule (Figure 1). This competition is reflected by decreasing mCherry levels as a function of increased production of RBP-mCerulean, due to increasing concentrations of inducer. In the case of increasing mCerulean fluorescence, with no significant changes in mCherry, a lack of RBP binding is deduced. Representative results for both a positive and a negativ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria at JoVE.com

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

In this method, we quantify the binding affinity of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) to cognate and non-cognate binding sites using a simple, live, reporter assay in bacterial cells. The assay is based on repression of a reporter gene.

In the initiation step of protein translation, the ribosome binds to the initiation region of the mRNA. Translation initiation can be blocked by binding ...

Characterization of protein binding to RNA in vivo remains a major challenge due to the complex nature of RNA and the many factors affecting its interaction with proteins. RNA binding protein or RBP-RNA affinity is measured inside live bacterial cells. Since cellular environment affects both the structure of RNA and resultant RBP-RNA binding, measuring the affinity in vivo is crucial for understanding such interactions in natural systems.The secret to success is in the design of the plasmids. The design should use several waves of delta and avoid insertion of stop codons and frameshift mutations. Begin this protocol by designing the binding site cassette.Each mini gene contains an EagI restriction site, 40 bases from the five prime end of the kanamycin resistance gene, the pLac/Ara promoter, the ribosome binding site, AUG of the mCherry gene, a spacer, an RBP binding site, 80 bases from the five prime end of the mCherry gene, and an ApaLI restriction site. To increase the success rate of the assay, design three binding site cassettes for each binding site with spacers consisting of at least one, two and three bases. Double digest both the mini genes and the target vector with EagI HF and ApaLI before performing column purification of the digests.Ligate the digested mini genes to the binding site backbone containing the rest of the mCherry reporter gene, terminator and a kanamycin resistance gene. Then transform the ligation solution into Escherichia coli top 10 cells. After identifying positive transformants via Sanger sequencing, store purified plasmids in the 96 well format at minus 20 degrees Celsius.Also store the bacterial strains as glycerol stocks in the 96 well format at minus 80 degrees Celsius. Custom order the required RBP sequence lacking a stop codon as a double-stranded DNA mini gene with restriction sites at the ends. Transform the prepared plasmids into chemically competent bacterial cells already containing an RBP mCerulean plasmid.To save time, plate the cells using an eight channel pipetter on eight lane plates containing Luria-Bertani agar with relevant antibiotics. Colonies should appear in 16 hours at 37 degrees Celsius. Select a single colony for each double transformant and transfer to 48 well plates containing 1.5 milliliters of LB with appropriate antibiotics.Grow the cells over a period of 18 hours at 37 degrees Celsius shaking at 250 RPM. Store the overnights as glycerol stocks at minus 80 degrees Celsius in 96 well plates. In the morning, program the robot to warm 180 microliters of semi-pore medium or SPM in 96 well plates.Program the robot to prepare the inducer plate. In a clean 96 well plate, prepare wells with SPM consisting of 95%BA and 5%LB. The number of wells corresponds to the desired number of inducer concentrations.Add C4-HSL to the wells in the inducer plate that will contain the highest inducer concentration. Next, program the robot to serially dilute medium from each of the highest concentration wells into 23 lower concentrations ranging from zero to 218 nanomolar. The volume of each inducer dilution should be sufficient for all strains.To dilute the overnight strains, program the robot to dilute by a factor of 10 by mixing 20 microliters of bacteria with 180 microliters of SPM in 48 well plates. Then dilute again by a factor of 10 by taking 20 microliters from the diluted solution into the pre-prepared strain plate suitable for fluorescent measurement. Now program the robot to add the diluted inducer from the inducer plate to the 96 well plates with the diluted strains according to the final concentrations.Shake the 96 well plates at 37 degrees Celsius for six hours. During that time, take measurements of the optical density or OD at 595 nanometers as well as mCherry and mCerulean fluorescence via a plate reader every 30 minutes. For normalization purposes, measure growth of SPM with no cells added.Shown here are three-dimensional plots for a positive strain. The plots depict raw OD levels, mCerulean fluorescence, and mCherry fluorescence as a function of time and inducer concentration. mCerulean steady-state expression levels were computed for each inducer concentration for both the positive and negative strains.The mCherry production rate was also computed for each inducer concentration for both positive and negative strains. mCherry production rate was plotted as a function of mean mCerulean fluorescence averaged over two biological duplicates for two strains. The fit KRBP using the fitting formula is shown for the positive strain exhibiting a specific binding response.For the negative strain, no KRBP value was extracted. Normalized dose response curves were determined for 30 different strains based on two RBPs as 10 binding sites at different locations. Three types of responses are observed, high affinity, low affinity, and no affinity.Shown here are quantitative KRBP results for two RBPs, MS2 coat protein and PP7 coat protein with 10 different binding site cassettes. Dose response curves for MS2 coat protein with a mutant binding site at four different locations are shown here to demonstrate the effect of the mutant spacing on mCherry production. The sequence of the tested mutated binding site is shown.It is important to use a structural technique such as shape seek to chemically probe the structure of the protein-RNA complex and to visualize which mRNA regions are affected by RNA binding. Recently, we used this technique in a high throughput manner to simultaneously measure the affinity of the RBPs to 10, 000 binding sites.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Genetics

6.5K Views.  Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. La caratterizzazione del legame proteico con l'RNA in vivo rimane una sfida importante a causa della natura complessa dell'RNA e dei molti fattori che influenzano la sua interazione con le proteine. La proteina legante l'RNA o affinità RBP-RNA viene misurata all'interno di cellule batteriche vive. Poiché l'ambiente cellulare influisce sia sulla struttura dell'RNA che sul risultante legame RBP-RNA, misurare l'affinità in vivo è fondamentale per comprendere tali interazioni nei sistemi natu...