Name: an in vitro single-molecule imaging assay for the analysis of cap-dependent translation kinetics
Uploaded: 2020-09-15T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [R01GM121847]; the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Support Grant/Core Grant (P30 CA008748); and MSKCC Functional Genomics Initiative.

1. Generation of reporter mRNA
<ol>
	<li>Modify a DNA transcription template that encodes a bulk-assay &#8220;untagged&#8221; reporter mRNA by inserting an N-terminus epitope tag-encoding sequence to generate a DNA transcription template for a &#8220;tagged&#8221; reporter mRNA (Figure 2A). 
	NOTE: 3xFLAG/anti-FLAG interaction is recommended for this assay due to its superior sensitivity and the short 3xFLAG tag length. However, the assay is compatible with other epitope/antibody pair...

In comparison to typical in vitro TIRF single-molecule experiments, single-molecule imaging with the assay described here is additionally complex due to the use of cell extract and a high concentration of fluorescently labeled antibody. Compared to the more common practice of one round of surface PEGylation, a second round of PEGylation (step 2) greatly reduces nonspecific antibody binding to detection surface15. The high concentration of diffusing fluorescent antibodies causes an extreme...

Translation in eukaryotic systems occurs predominantly through 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap-dependent pathways1. Studies indicate that the initiation step of eukaryotic translation is rate-limiting and a common target for regulation2,3,4. Mechanisms of cap-dependent translation have been extensively studied using genetic5, biochemical6,7,8, structural9, and genomic10 bulk approaches. Although these methods have identified diverse mechanisms that regulate cap-dependent initiation, their resolution limits them to ensemble averaging of signals from heterogeneous and asynchronous initiation events. More recently, individual in vivo translation events have been visualized by methods that measure fluorescent antibody binding to epitopes on nascent polypeptides11,12,13,14. However, these new approaches are also limited in their ability to resolve individual initiation events because multiple fluorescent antibodies must bind a nascent peptide to allow single translation events to be resolved from a high intracellular fluorescence background. In many biological interactions, resolved individual kinetic events have provided critical insights into understanding complex multistep and repetitive biological processes that are not possible to synchronize at the molecular level. New methods that can track the dynamics of individual translation events are needed for a better understanding of cap-dependent initiation and regulation.
We recently developed an in vitro assay that measures cap-dependent initiation kinetics with single-molecule resolution15. Considering the large number of known and unknown protein factors involved in this initiation pathway3,16, the single-molecule assay was developed to be compatible with existing in vitro cell-free translation systems to benefit from their preservation of cellular factors and robust translation activity17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Furthermore, the use of cell-free translation systems allows more compatible comparisons between single-molecule observations and previous bulk results. This approach provides a straight-forward integration of new single-molecule kinetic insights into the existing mechanistic framework of cap-dependent initiation. To establish the single-molecule assay, the traditional cell-free translation system is modified in three ways: an epitope-encoding sequence is inserted at the beginning of the open reading frame (ORF) of a reporter mRNA; the 3&#8242; end of the reporter mRNA is biotinylated to facilitate mRNA end-tethering to single-molecule detection surface; and fluorescently-labeled antibodies are supplemented to the translation extract. These modifications require only basic molecular biology techniques and commonly available reagents. Furthermore, these modifications and the single-molecule imaging conditions preserve the translation kinetics of bulk cell-free translation reactions15.
In this assay (Figure 1), 5&#8242;-end capped and 3&#8242;-end biotinylated reporter mRNA is immobilized to a streptavidin-coated detection surface in a flow chamber. The flow chamber is then filled with a cell-free translation mixture supplemented with fluorescently labeled antibodies. After mRNA translation has occurred for approximately 30-40 codons downstream of the epitope sequence26,27, the epitope emerges from the ribosome exit tunnel and becomes accessible to interact with fluorescently-labeled antibody. This interaction is rapid and its detection by single-molecule fluorescence imaging techniques enables tracking of translation kinetics with single-molecule resolution during active cell-free translation. This assay should broadly benefit in vitro studies of cap-dependent translation kinetics and its regulation, particularly for systems with a working bulk in vitro assay.
A prerequisite for establishing this single-molecule assay is a working bulk cell-free translation assay, which can be achieved using translation extract that is either commercially available or prepared following previously described methods28. Eukaryotic translation extract can be obtained from diverse cells, including fungal, mammalian, and plant28. For imaging, this assay requires a TIRF microscope equipped with tunable laser intensity and incident angle, a motorized sample stage, a motorized fluidics system, and sample temperature control device. Such requirements are generic for modern in vitro single-molecule TIRF experiments and may be achieved differently. The experiment presented here uses an objective-type TIRF system made up of commercially available microscope, software, and accessories all listed in the Table of Materials.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>100X oil objective, N.A. 1.49</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>UAPON 100XOTIRF</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acryamide/bis (40%, 19:1)</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>161-0144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alkaline liquid detergent</td>
			<td>Decon</td>
			<td>5332</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aminosilane (N-(2-Aminoethyl)-3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane)</td>
			<td>UCT Specialties, LLC</td>
			<td>A0700</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Andor ixon Ultra DU 897V EMCCD</td>
			<td>Andor</td>
			<td>DU-897U-CSO-#BV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Andor Solis software</td>
			<td>Andor</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For controlling the Andor EMCCD</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Band-pass filter</td>
			<td>Chroma</td>
			<td>532/640/25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Band-pass filter</td>
			<td>Chroma</td>
			<td>NF03-405/488/532/635E-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin-PEG-SVA</td>
			<td>Laysan Bio Inc</td>
			<td>Biotin-PEG-SVA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coenzyme A free acid</td>
			<td>Prolume</td>
			<td>309-250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coolterm software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For controlling the syringe pump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Desktop computer</td>
			<td>Dell</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For controlling the microscope, camera, stage, and pump.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dichroic mirror</td>
			<td>Semrock</td>
			<td>R405/488/532/635</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Direct-zol RNA microprep 50RNX</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>NC1139450</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E1910</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Epoxy</td>
			<td>Devcon</td>
			<td>14250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Firefly luciferin D-Luciferin free acid</td>
			<td>Prolume</td>
			<td>306-250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glacial acetic acid</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1185500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen perioxide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>216763-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Immersion oil</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>Z-81226A</td>
			<td>Low auto-fluorescence</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Luciferase Assay System</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E1500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEGASCRIPT T7 Transcription Kit</td>
			<td>Thermo fisher</td>
			<td>AM1334</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>MMX04751</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>IX83</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope slide</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>3048</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Monoclonal anti-FLAG M2-Cy3</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A9594</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>mPEG-SVA</td>
			<td>Laysan Bio Inc</td>
			<td>mPEG-SVA-5000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MS(PEG)4</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>22341</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl (5M)</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>AM9760G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>No 1.5 microscope Cover glass</td>
			<td>Fisherband</td>
			<td>12-544-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus Laser, 532nm 100mM</td>
			<td>Olympus digital Laser system</td>
			<td>CMR-LAS 532nm 100mW</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus TirfCtrl software</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For controlling the laser intensity and incident angle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optical table</td>
			<td>TMC vibration control</td>
			<td>63-563</td>
			<td>With vibration isolation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol mix</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>77617-100ml</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pierce RNA 3&#39; End Biotinylation Kit</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>20160</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium hydroxide pellets</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P1767-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Prior motorized XY translation stage</td>
			<td>Prior</td>
			<td>PS3J100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Prior PriorTest software</td>
			<td>Prior</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For controlling the Prior motorized stage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant RNasin RNase Inhibitor</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>N2515</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stage top Incubator</td>
			<td>In vivo scientific (world precision Instruments)</td>
			<td>98710-1</td>
			<td>With a custom built acrylic cage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Staining jar</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-817</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>43-4301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sulfuric acid</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A300212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SYBR green II</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S7564</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>1725RN</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe pump</td>
			<td>Harvard apparatus</td>
			<td>55-3333</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris (1M), pH = 7.0</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>AM9850G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultrasonic Bath</td>
			<td>Branson</td>
			<td>CPX1800H</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Urea</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>U5378-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vaccinia Capping system</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>M2080S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zymo-Spin IC Columns</td>
			<td>Zymo Research</td>
			<td>C1004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an in vitro single-molecule imaging assay for the analysis of cap-dependent translation kinetics

Cap-dependent protein synthesis is the predominant translation pathway in eukaryotic cells. While various biochemical and genetic approaches have allowed extensive studies of cap-dependent translation and its regulation, high resolution kinetic characterization of this translation pathway is still lacking. Recently, we developed an in vitro assay to measure cap-dependent translation kinetics with single-molecule resolution. The assay is based on fluorescently labeled antibody binding to nascent epitope-tagged polypeptide. By imaging the binding and dissociation of antibodies to and from nascent peptide&#8211;ribosome&#8211;mRNA complexes, the translation progression on individual mRNAs can be tracked. Here, we present a protocol for establishing this assay, including mRNA and PEGylated slide preparations, real-time imaging of translation, and analysis of single molecule trajectories. This assay enables tracking of individual cap-dependent translation events and resolves key translation kinetics, such as initiation and elongation rates. The assay can be widely applied to distinct translation systems and should broadly benefit in vitro studies of cap-dependent translation kinetics and translational control mechanisms.

Following the protocol described enables the imaging of individual antibody interactions with nascent N-terminal-tagged polypeptides with single-molecule resolution during active cell-free translation of 3&#39; end-tethered reporter mRNA (Figure 1). A minimal demonstration experiment is reported with the use of three synthetic mRNAs: LUC (encoding untagged luciferase), LUCFLAG (encoding 3xFLAG-tagged luciferase), and hp-LUCFLAG...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics at JoVE.com

An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics

Tracking individual translation events allows for high-resolution kinetic studies of cap-dependent translation mechanisms. Here we demonstrate an in vitro single-molecule assay based on imaging interactions between fluorescently labeled antibodies and epitope-tagged nascent peptides. This method enables single-molecule characterization of initiation and peptide elongation kinetics during active in vitro cap-dependent translation.

An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics

Cap-dependent protein synthesis is the predominant translation pathway in eukaryotic cells. While various biochemical and genetic approaches have allowed ...

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