Name: quantitative immunofluorescence assay to measure the variation in protein levels at centrosomes
Uploaded: 2014-12-20T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes at JoVE.com

This work was supported by a National Institutes of Health grant (GM77311) and a seed grant from The Ohio Cancer Research Associates (to H.A.F.). SM was partially supported by an Up on the Roof fellowship from the Human Cancer Genetics Program of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

1. Cell Culture
<ol>
	<li>Use human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) immortalized retinal pigment epithelial cells (hTERT-RPE1; referred to here as RPE1). 
	NOTE: RPE1 cells are near-diploid, non-transformed human cells that are commonly used to study centriole assembly and ciliogenesis. These cells follow a normal centriole duplication cycle coordinated with a regulated cell cycle.</li>
	<li>Passage a near-confluent 100 mm cell culture dish of RPE1 cells at 1:5 dilution of the original culture into a fres...

<ol>
	<li>Ganem, N. J., Godinho, S. A., Pellman, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+mechanism+linking+extra+centrosomes+to+chromosomal+instability.">A mechanism linking extra centrosomes to chromosomal instability.</a> Nature. 460, 278-282 (2009).</li><li>Kobayashi, T., Dynlacht, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulating+the+transition+from+centriole+to+basal+body.">Regulating the transition from centriole to basal body.</a> J. Cell Biol. 193, 435-444 (2011).</li><li>Azimzadeh, J., Marshall, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Building+the+centriole.">Building the centriole.</a> Curr. Biol. 20, 816-825 (2010).</li><li>Nakazawa, Y., Hiraki, M., Kamiya, R., Hirono, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SAS-6+is+a+cartwheel+protein+that+establishes+the+9-fold+symmetry+of+the+centriole.">SAS-6 is a cartwheel protein that establishes the 9-fold symmetry of the centriole.</a> Curr. Biol. 17, 2169-2174 (2007).</li><li>Strnad, P., 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=Regulated+HsSAS-6+levels+ensure+formation+of+a+single+procentriole+per+centriole+during+the+centrosome+duplication+cycle.">Regulated HsSAS-6 levels ensure formation of a single procentriole per centriole during the centrosome duplication cycle.</a> Dev. Cell. 13, 203-213 (2007).</li><li>Hilbert, M., 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=Caenorhabditis+elegans+centriolar+protein+SAS-6+forms+a+spiral+that+is+consistent+with+imparting+a+ninefold+symmetry.">Caenorhabditis elegans centriolar protein SAS-6 forms a spiral that is consistent with imparting a ninefold symmetry.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 110, 11373-11378 (2013).</li><li>Pike, A. N., Fisk, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Centriole+assembly+and+the+role+of+Mps1:+defensible+or+dispensable.">Centriole assembly and the role of Mps1: defensible or dispensable.</a> Cell Div. 6, 9 (2011).</li><li>Haren, L., Stearns, T., Luders, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plk1-dependent+recruitment+of+gamma-tubulin+complexes+to+mitotic+centrosomes+involves+multiple+PCM+components.">Plk1-dependent recruitment of gamma-tubulin complexes to mitotic centrosomes involves multiple PCM components.</a> PLoS One. 4, e5976 (2009).</li><li>Andersen, J. S., 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=Proteomic+characterization+of+the+human+centrosome+by+protein+correlation+profiling.">Proteomic characterization of the human centrosome by protein correlation profiling.</a> Nature. 426, 570-574 (2003).</li><li>Keller, L. C., Romijn, E. P., Zamora, I., Yates, J. R., Marshall, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Proteomic+analysis+of+isolated+chlamydomonas+centrioles+reveals+orthologs+of+ciliary-disease+genes.">Proteomic analysis of isolated chlamydomonas centrioles reveals orthologs of ciliary-disease genes.</a> Curr. Biol. 15, 1090-1098 (2005).</li><li>Kumar, A., Rajendran, V., Sethumadhavan, R., Purohit, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CEP+proteins:+the+knights+of+centrosome+dynasty.">CEP proteins: the knights of centrosome dynasty.</a> Protoplasma. 250, 965-983 (2013).</li><li>Kanai, M., 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=Physical+and+functional+interaction+between+mortalin+and+Mps1+kinase.">Physical and functional interaction between mortalin and Mps1 kinase.</a> Genes Cells. 12, 797-810 (2007).</li><li>Jakobsen, L., 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=Novel+asymmetrically+localizing+components+of+human+centrosomes+identified+by+complementary+proteomics+methods.">Novel asymmetrically localizing components of human centrosomes identified by complementary proteomics methods.</a> Embo. J. 30, 1520-1535 (2011).</li><li>Sang, L., 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=Mapping+the+NPHP-JBTS-MKS+protein+network+reveals+ciliopathy+disease+genes+and+pathways.">Mapping the NPHP-JBTS-MKS protein network reveals ciliopathy disease genes and pathways.</a> Cell. 145, 513-528 (2011).</li><li>Dowdle, W. 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=Disruption+of+a+ciliary+B9+protein+complex+causes+Meckel+syndrome.">Disruption of a ciliary B9 protein complex causes Meckel syndrome.</a> Am. J. Hum. Genet. 89, 94-110 (2011).</li><li>Majumder, S., Slabodnick, M., Pike, A., Marquardt, J., Fisk, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VDAC3+regulates+centriole+assembly+by+targeting+Mps1+to+centrosomes.">VDAC3 regulates centriole assembly by targeting Mps1 to centrosomes.</a> Cell Cycle. 11, 3666-3678 (2012).</li><li>Guderian, G., Westendorf, J., Uldschmid, A., Nigg, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plk4+trans-autophosphorylation+regulates+centriole+number+by+controlling+betaTrCP-mediated+degradation.">Plk4 trans-autophosphorylation regulates centriole number by controlling betaTrCP-mediated degradation.</a> J. Cell Sci. 123, 2163-2169 (2010).</li><li>Holland, A. J., 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=The+autoregulated+instability+of+Polo-like+kinase+4+limits+centrosome+duplication+to+once+per+cell+cycle.">The autoregulated instability of Polo-like kinase 4 limits centrosome duplication to once per cell cycle.</a> Genes Dev. 26, 2684-2689 (2012).</li><li>Kasbek, 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=Preventing+the+degradation+of+mps1+at+centrosomes+is+sufficient+to+cause+centrosome+reduplication+in+human+cells.">Preventing the degradation of mps1 at centrosomes is sufficient to cause centrosome reduplication in human cells.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 18, 4457-4469 (2007).</li><li>Kasbek, C., Yang, C. H., Fisk, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antizyme+restrains+centrosome+amplification+by+regulating+the+accumulation+of+Mps1+at+centrosomes.">Antizyme restrains centrosome amplification by regulating the accumulation of Mps1 at centrosomes.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 21, 3878-3889 (2010).</li><li>Puklowski, 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=The+SCF-FBXW5+E3-ubiquitin+ligase+is+regulated+by+PLK4+and+targets+HsSAS-6+to+control+centrosome+duplication.">The SCF-FBXW5 E3-ubiquitin ligase is regulated by PLK4 and targets HsSAS-6 to control centrosome duplication.</a> Nat. Cell Biol. 13, 1004-1009 (2011).</li><li>Spektor, A., Tsang, W. Y., Khoo, D., Dynlacht, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cep97+and+CP110+suppress+a+cilia+assembly+program.">Cep97 and CP110 suppress a cilia assembly program.</a> Cell. 130, 678-690 (2007).</li><li>Salisbury, J., Suino, K., Busby, R., Springett, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Centrin-2+is+required+for+centriole+duplication+in+Mammalian+cells.">Centrin-2 is required for centriole duplication in Mammalian cells.</a> Curr. Biol. 12, 1287 (2002).</li><li>Lukasiewicz, K. 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=Control+of+centrin+stability+by+Aurora+A.">Control of centrin stability by Aurora A.</a> PLoS One. 6, e21291 (2011).</li><li>Zhao, J., Ren, Y., Jiang, Q., Feng, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Parkin+is+recruited+to+the+centrosome+in+response+to+inhibition+of+proteasomes.">Parkin is recruited to the centrosome in response to inhibition of proteasomes.</a> J. Cell Sci. 116, 4011-4019 (2003).</li><li>Korzeniewski, 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=Cullin+1+functions+as+a+centrosomal+suppressor+of+centriole+multiplication+by+regulating+polo-like+kinase+4+protein+levels.">Cullin 1 functions as a centrosomal suppressor of centriole multiplication by regulating polo-like kinase 4 protein levels.</a> Cancer Res. 69, 6668-6675 (2009).</li><li>Rohatgi, R., Milenkovic, L., Corcoran, R. B., Scott, M. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hedgehog+signal+transduction+by+Smoothened:+pharmacologic+evidence+for+a+2-step+activation+process.">Hedgehog signal transduction by Smoothened: pharmacologic evidence for a 2-step activation process.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 3196-3201 (2009).</li><li>Majumder, S., Fisk, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VDAC3+and+Mps1+negatively+regulate+ciliogenesis.">VDAC3 and Mps1 negatively regulate ciliogenesis.</a> Cell Cycle. 12, 849-858 (2013).</li><li>Howell, B. J., Hoffman, D. B., Fang, G., Murray, A. W., Salmon, E. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualization+of+Mad2+dynamics+at+kinetochores,+along+spindle+fibers,+and+at+spindle+poles+in+living+cells.">Visualization of Mad2 dynamics at kinetochores, along spindle fibers, and at spindle poles in living cells.</a> J. Cell Biol. 150, 1233-1250 (2000).</li><li>Meraldi, P., Nigg, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Centrosome+cohesion+is+regulated+by+a+balance+of+kinase+and+phosphatase+activities.">Centrosome cohesion is regulated by a balance of kinase and phosphatase activities.</a> J. Cell Sci. 114, 3749-3757 (2001).</li><li>Zimmerman, W. C., Sillibourne, J., Rosa, J., Doxsey, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mitosis-specific+anchoring+of+gamma+tubulin+complexes+by+pericentrin+controls+spindle+organization+and+mitotic+entry.">Mitosis-specific anchoring of gamma tubulin complexes by pericentrin controls spindle organization and mitotic entry.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 15, 3642-3657 (2004).</li><li>Lee, K., Rhee, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PLK1+phosphorylation+of+pericentrin+initiates+centrosome+maturation+at+the+onset+of+mitosis.">PLK1 phosphorylation of pericentrin initiates centrosome maturation at the onset of mitosis.</a> J. Cell Biol. 195, 1093-1101 (2011).</li><li>Lin, Y. 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=Human+microcephaly+protein+CEP135+binds+to+hSAS-6+and+CPAP,+and+is+required+for+centriole+assembly.">Human microcephaly protein CEP135 binds to hSAS-6 and CPAP, and is required for centriole assembly.</a> Embo. J. 32, 1141-1154 (2013).</li><li>Lichtenstein, N., Geiger, B., Kam, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+analysis+of+cytoskeletal+organization+by+digital+fluorescent+microscopy.">Quantitative analysis of cytoskeletal organization by digital fluorescent microscopy.</a> Cytometry A. 54, 8-18 (2003).</li><li>Keller, L. 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=Molecular+architecture+of+the+centriole+proteome:+the+conserved+WD40+domain+protein+POC1+is+required+for+centriole+duplication+and+length+control.">Molecular architecture of the centriole proteome: the conserved WD40 domain protein POC1 is required for centriole duplication and length control.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 20, 1150-1166 (2009).</li><li>Venoux, M., 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=Poc1A+and+Poc1B+act+together+in+human+cells+to+ensure+centriole+integrity.">Poc1A and Poc1B act together in human cells to ensure centriole integrity.</a> J. Cell Sci. 126, 163-175 (2013).</li><li>Stevens, N. R., Roque, H., Raff, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DSas-6+and+Ana2+coassemble+into+tubules+to+promote+centriole+duplication+and+engagement.">DSas-6 and Ana2 coassemble into tubules to promote centriole duplication and engagement.</a> Dev. Cell. 19, 913-919 (2010).</li><li>Machiels, B. M., 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=Detailed+analysis+of+cell+cycle+kinetics+upon+proteasome+inhibition.">Detailed analysis of cell cycle kinetics upon proteasome inhibition.</a> Cytometry. 28, 243-252 (1997).</li><li>Yang, C. H., Kasbek, C., Majumder, S., Yusof, A. M., Fisk, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mps1+phosphorylation+sites+regulate+the+function+of+centrin+2+in+centriole+assembly.">Mps1 phosphorylation sites regulate the function of centrin 2 in centriole assembly.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 21, 4361-4372 (2010).</li><li>Tsou, M. F., 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=Polo+kinase+and+separase+regulate+the+mitotic+licensing+of+centriole+duplication+in+human+cells.">Polo kinase and separase regulate the mitotic licensing of centriole duplication in human cells.</a> Dev. Cell. 17, 344-354 (2009).</li><li>Salic, A., Mitchison, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+chemical+method+for+fast+and+sensitive+detection+of+DNA+synthesis+in+vivo.">A chemical method for fast and sensitive detection of DNA synthesis in vivo.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 2415-2420 (2008).</li><li>Buck, S. 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=Detection+of+S-phase+cell+cycle+progression+using+5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine+incorporation+with+click+chemistry,+an+alternative+to+using+5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine+antibodies.">Detection of S-phase cell cycle progression using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation with click chemistry, an alternative to using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine antibodies.</a> Biotechniques. 44, 927-929 (2008).</li><li>Waters, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accuracy+and+precision+in+quantitative+fluorescence+microscopy.">Accuracy and precision in quantitative fluorescence microscopy.</a> J. Cell Biol. 185, 1135-1148 (2009).</li></ol>

Quantitative microscopy in cell biology is commonly associated with live-cell imaging assays such as Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP), etc. However, there are growing examples of cell biologists developing different quantitative microscopy assays for fixed cells in recent years27,34-36. Importantly, progress in understanding centrosome biology often requires understanding of the centrosome-specific function of proteins whose centrosomal p...

Centrosomes consist of a pair of centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material (PCM). Being the major microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) in mammalian cells, centrosomes serve as the two poles of mitotic spindles in dividing cells, and thus help maintain genomic integrity1. In quiescent cells (e.g., during G0 phase), one of the two centrioles of the centrosome, namely the mother centriole, is transformed into a basal body to assemble the primary cilium, a sensory organelle protruding out from the cell surface2. Once the cells re-enter the cell cycle, primary cilia are disassembled and each centriole directs the assembly of a procentriole at its proximal end that gradually elongates to form a mature centriole3. At the onset of S-phase, a cartwheel-like structure that provides the 9-fold symmetry to the centriole is formed on the surface of each existing centriole and will become the base of each procentriole. Sas6 that is indispensable for centriole assembly is recruited to form the hub of the cartwheel4-6. Other centriolar proteins are then assembled onto the cartwheel in a highly regulated, proximal to distal manner7. After precisely completing centriole duplication, cells assemble additional pericentriolar materials to build two functional centrosomes by the end of G2 phase8. In addition to the core centriolar components9-11, several other proteins including kinases, phosphatases, chaperones, scaffold components, membrane associated proteins and degradation machinery are associated with centrioles, basal bodies and PCM at different times of the cell cycle12-16. It is often noted that the centrosomal levels of many proteins are temporally regulated by centrosomal targeting mechanisms and/or proteasomal degradation at centrosomes. Importantly, the fluctuations in the centrosomal level of several proteins such as Plk4, Mps1, Sas6, and CP110 at different points of the cell cycle appears to be crucial to regulate centriole assembly5,17-22, and in the case of Mps1 preventing this centrosomal degradation leads to the formation of excess centrioles19. On the other hand, the centrosomal fractions of several proteins are less labile compared to cytosolic pools. For example siRNA-mediated down-regulation of Centrin 2 (Cetn2) led to only a moderate decrease of the protein level at the centrioles despite great reduction in its whole cell levels23. It is therefore crucial to measure the changes in the level of centrosomal proteins at the centrosome rather than measuring the whole cell protein levels when assessing their centrosome-specific functions.
In this study we have developed an assay using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) to quantify the relative level of a protein at centrosomes. This assay is developed particularly to analyze cells that are from different samples and thus can not be imaged at the same time. These samples can be cells that were treated with different reagents (i.e., drug versus control), collected at different time points (i.e., pulse versus chase), or are in different phases of the cell cycle. The principle of this assay lies in measuring the background corrected fluorescent intensity corresponding to a protein at a small region and to normalize that value against the same for another protein whose levels do not vary under the chosen experimental conditions. Several studies in centrosome biology have recently utilized various quantitative microscopy techniques, in both live or fixed cells, to determine the centrosome-specific function of candidate proteins24-27. Similar to those assays, the present technique also measures the background corrected fluorescence intensity of the test protein. However, the inclusion of the normalization using an internal standard in this assay would likely offer greater accuracy and confidence in analyzing two different samples that are on two different coverslips. Moreover, in addition to examining the protein level at centrosomes, with minor adjustments this method can be applied to a diverse set of experimental conditions or at other cellular sites.
Here, we combine our quantitative microscopy assay with a BrdU pulse-chase strategy to compare cells from different cell cycle stages. Instead of using standard cell cycle arrest and release techniques to study various cell cycle time points, asynchronously growing cells are incubated with BrdU to label cells in S-phase, and the labeled cells are chased for various times (typically 4-6 hr). Most of the labeled cells will be in S-phase immediately after the pulse. The length of the chase is chosen so that after the chase, labeled cells will be in late S, G2, or mitosis, which can be verified by morphological characteristics such as- position of centrosomes with respect to nuclei, distance between centrosomes, condensation of chromosomes etc. Thus, the length of the chase depends on the average duration of S, G2 and M phase of a particular cell type. Since this approach avoids cell cycle inhibitors such as hydroxyurea, aphidicolin, nocodazole, etc., it allows a more physiologically relevant cell cycle analysis.
Thus, we demonstrate here that the quantitative fluorescence microscopy assay alone, or in combination with BrdU pulse-chase assay, is a simple yet powerful technique to accurately measure the relative changes in the centrosomal level of a candidate protein during an unperturbed cell cycle. We measured the centrosomal level of VDAC3, a protein that we recently identified at centrosomes in addition to mitochondria16,28, using these assays. Results obtained here verify our previous observation that the centrosomal pool of VDAC3 is regulated by degradation, and also varies in a cell cycle dependent manner16, furthermore validating the applicability of this method.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="576">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:179px;">Name&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Company&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Catalog number</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:179px;">Fibronectin</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">F8141</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Stock of 1 mg/ml in water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:179px;">DMSO</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">D2650</td>
			<td style="width:195px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:179px;">MG115</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">SCP0005</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Stock of 10 mM in DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:179px;">BrdU</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">B5002</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Stock of 10 mM in DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:179px;">Anti-g-tubulin (mouse monoclonal, clone GTU 88)</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">T 6557</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:200 in IIF blocking buffer&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:179px;">Anti-VDAC3 (rabbit polyclonal)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Aviva Systems Biology</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">ARP35180-P050</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:50 in IIF blocking buffer, 1:1000 in WB blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Anti-Sas6 (mouse monoclonal)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Santa cruz biotechnology</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">sc-81431</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:100 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Anti-Cep135 (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Abcam</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">ab-75005</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:500 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Anti-BrdU (rat monoclonal)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Abcam</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">ab6326</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:250 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Alexa Fluor 350 Goat Anti-Rat IgG (H+L)</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">A21093</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:200 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:179px;">Alexa Fluor 488 Donkey Anti-Mouse IgG (H+L) Antibody</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">A21202</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:1000 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="50">
			<td height="50" style="height:51px;width:179px;">Alexa Fluor 594 Donkey Anti-Mouse IgG (H+L) Antibody</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">A21203</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:1000 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="50">
			<td height="50" style="height:51px;width:179px;">Alexa Fluor 488 Donkey Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L) Antibody</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">A21206</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:1000 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:179px;">Alexa Fluor 594 Donkey Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L) Antibody</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">A21207</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:1000 in IIF blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Anti-g-tubulin (rabbit polyclonal)</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">T5192</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:1000 in WB blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Anti-a-tubulin (mouse monoclonal, DM1A)</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">T9026</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:20000 in WB blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Alexa Fluor 680 Donkey Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L)</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">A10043</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:10000 in WB blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:179px;">Mouse IgG (H&#38;L) Antibody IRDye800CW Conjugated</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Rockland antibodies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">610-731-002</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1:10000 in WB blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">SlowFade Gold Antifade Reagent&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">S36936</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Mounting media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Round coverslips 12CIR.-1</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">12-545-80</td>
			<td style="width:195px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Olympus IX-81 microscope</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:99px;"></td>
			<td style="width:195px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Retiga ExiFAST 1394 IR camera</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">QImaging&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">32-0082B-238</td>
			<td style="width:195px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">100X Plan Apo oil immersion objective</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:99px;"></td>
			<td style="width:195px;">1.4 numerical aperture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:179px;">Slidebook software package</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Intelligent Imaging Innovations</td>
			<td style="width:99px;"></td>
			<td style="width:195px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Odyssey IR Imaging System</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Li-cor Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:99px;"></td>
			<td style="width:195px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:179px;">Bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td align="right">23227</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">U-MNU2 Narrow UV cube</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Olympus</td>
			<td>U-M622</td>
			<td>Filter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">U-MNU2 Narrow Blue cube</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Olympus</td>
			<td>U-M643</td>
			<td>Filter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">U-MNU2 Narrow Green cube</td>
			<td style="width:105px;">Olympus</td>
			<td>U-M663</td>
			<td>Filter</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantitative immunofluorescence assay to measure the variation in protein levels at centrosomes

Centrosomes are small but important organelles that serve as the poles of mitotic spindle to maintain genomic integrity or assemble primary cilia to facilitate sensory functions in cells. The level of a protein may be regulated differently at centrosomes than at other .cellular locations, and the variation in the centrosomal level of several proteins at different points of the cell cycle appears to be crucial for the proper regulation of centriole assembly. We developed a quantitative fluorescence microscopy assay that measures relative changes in the level of a protein at centrosomes in fixed cells from different samples, such as at different phases of the cell cycle or after treatment with various reagents. The principle of this assay lies in measuring the background corrected fluorescent intensity corresponding to a protein at a small region, and normalize that measurement against the same for another protein that does not vary under the chosen experimental condition. Utilizing this assay in combination with BrdU pulse and chase strategy to study unperturbed cell cycles, we have quantitatively validated our recent observation that the centrosomal pool of VDAC3 is regulated at centrosomes during the cell cycle, likely by proteasome-mediated degradation specifically at centrosomes.

Our recent studies identified novel centrosomal localization and function of VDAC3, one of the mitochondrial porins16,28. Immunostaining of several mammalian cells including RPE1 cells using a VDAC3-specific antibody showed prominent centrosomal staining and comparatively weak mitochondrial staining. We also showed that centrosomal VDAC3 is preferentially associated with the mother centriole, and the centrosomal pool of both the endogenous and ectopically expressed VDAC3 is regulated by degradation16</sup...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes at JoVE.com

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes

Here, a novel quantitative fluorescence assay is developed to measure changes in the level of a protein specifically at centrosomes by normalizing that protein&#8217;s fluorescence intensity to that of an appropriate internal standard.

Centrosomes are small but important organelles that serve as the poles of mitotic spindle to maintain genomic integrity or assemble primary cilia to ...

quantitative-immunofluorescence-assay-to-measure-variation-protein

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

A Behavioral Assay to Measure Responsiveness of Zebrafish to Changes in Light Intensities 

The optokinetic reflex (OKR) is a basic visual reflex exhibited by most vertebrates and plays an important role in stabilizing the eye relative to the visual scene. However, the OKR requires that an animal detect moving stripes and it is possible that fish that fail to exhibit an OKR may not be completely blind. One zebrafish mutant, the no optokinetic response c (nrc) has no OKR under any light conditions tested and was reported to be completely blind. Previously, we have shown that OFF-ganglion cell activity can be recorded in these mutants. To determine whether mutant fish with no OKR such as the nrc mutant can detect simple light increments and decrements we developed the visual motor behavioral assay (VMR). In this assay, single zebrafish larvae are placed in each well of a 96-well plate allowing the simultaneous monitoring of larvae using an automated video-tracking system. The locomotor responses of each larva to 30 minutes light ON and 30 minutes light OFF were recorded and quantified. WT fish have a brief spike of motor activity upon lights ON, known as the startle response, followed by return to lower-than baseline activity, called a freeze. WT fish also sharply increase their locomotor activity immediately following lights OFF and only gradually (over several minutes) return to baseline locomotor activity. The nrc mutants respond similarly to light OFF as WT fish, but exhibit a slight reduction in their average activity as compared to WT fish. Motor activity in response to light ON in nrc mutants is delayed and sluggish. There is a slow rise time of the nrc mutant response to light ON as compared to WT light ON response. The results indicate that nrc fish are not completely blind. Because teleosts can detect light through non-retinal tissues, we confirmed that the immediate behavioral responses to light-intensity changes require intact eyes by using the chokh (chk) mutants, which completely lack eyes from the earliest stages of development. In our VMR assay, the chk mutants exhibit no startle response to either light ON or OFF, showing that the lateral eyes mediate this behavior. The VMR assay described here complements the well-established OKR assay, which does not test the ability of zebrafish larvae to respond to changes in light intensities. Additionally, the automation of the VMR assay lends itself to high-throughput screening for defects in light-intensity driven visual responses.

A Behavioral Assay to Measure Responsiveness of Zebrafish to Changes in Light Intensities

We developed the Visual-Motor Response to quantitate the motor output of larval zebrafish in response to light increments and decrements. We also examined zebrafish vision mutants, including the no optokinetic response (nrc) mutants, which were thought to be completely blind when tested by another vision assay, the optokinetic reflex.

The optokinetic reflex (OKR) is a basic visual reflex exhibited by most vertebrates and plays an important role in stabilizing the eye relative to the ...

Photobleaching Assays (FRAP &amp; FLIP) to Measure Chromatin Protein Dynamics in Living Embryonic Stem Cells

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Loss In Photobleaching (FLIP) enable the study of protein dynamics in living cells with good spatial and temporal resolution. Here we describe how to perform FRAP and FLIP assays of chromatin proteins, including H1 and HP1, in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. In a FRAP experiment, cells are transfected, either transiently or stably, with a protein of interest fused with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) or derivatives thereof (YFP, CFP, Cherry, etc.). In the transfected, fluorescing cells, an intense focused laser beam bleaches a relatively small region of interest (ROI). The laser wavelength is selected according to the fluorescent protein used for fusion. The laser light irreversibly bleaches the fluorescent signal of molecules in the ROI and, immediately following bleaching, the recovery of the fluorescent signal in the bleached area - mediated by the replacement of the bleached molecules with the unbleached molecules - is monitored using time lapse imaging. The generated fluorescence recovery curves provide information on the protein's mobility. If the fluorescent molecules are immobile, no fluorescence recovery will be observed. In a complementary approach, Fluorescence Loss in Photobleaching (FLIP), the laser beam bleaches the same spot repeatedly and the signal intensity is measured elsewhere in the fluorescing cell. FLIP experiments therefore measure signal decay rather than fluorescence recovery and are useful to determine protein mobility as well as protein shuttling between cellular compartments. Transient binding is a common property of chromatin-associated proteins. Although the major fraction of each chromatin protein is bound to chromatin at any given moment at steady state, the binding is transient and most chromatin proteins have a high turnover on chromatin, with a residence time in the order of seconds. These properties are crucial for generating high plasticity in genome expression1. Photobleaching experiments are therefore particularly useful to determine chromatin plasticity using GFP-fusion versions of chromatin structural proteins, especially in ES cells, where the dynamic exchange of chromatin proteins (including heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), linker histone H1 and core histones) is higher than in differentiated cells2,3.

Photobleaching Assays FRAP &amp; FLIP to Measure Chromatin Protein Dynamics in Living Embryonic Stem Cells

We describe photobleaching methods including Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Loss In Photobleaching (FLIP) to monitor chromatin protein dynamics in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Chromatin protein dynamics, which is considered to be one of the means to study chromatin plasticity, is enhanced in pluripotent cells.

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Loss In Photobleaching (FLIP) enable the study of protein dynamics in living cells with ...

The MultiBac Protein Complex Production Platform at the EMBL

Proteomics research revealed the impressive complexity of eukaryotic proteomes in unprecedented detail. It is now a commonly accepted notion that proteins in cells mostly exist not as isolated entities but exert their biological activity in association with many other proteins, in humans ten or more, forming assembly lines in the cell for most if not all vital functions.1,2 Knowledge of the function and architecture of these multiprotein assemblies requires their provision in superior quality and sufficient quantity for detailed analysis. The paucity of many protein complexes in cells, in particular in eukaryotes, prohibits their extraction from native sources, and necessitates recombinant production. The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) has proven to be particularly useful for producing eukaryotic proteins, the activity of which often relies on post-translational processing that other commonly used expression systems often cannot support.3 BEVS use a recombinant baculovirus into which the gene of interest was inserted to infect insect cell cultures which in turn produce the protein of choice. MultiBac is a BEVS that has been particularly tailored for the production of eukaryotic protein complexes that contain many subunits.4 A vital prerequisite for efficient production of proteins and their complexes are robust protocols for all steps involved in an expression experiment that ideally can be implemented as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and followed also by non-specialist users with comparative ease. The MultiBac platform at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) uses SOPs for all steps involved in a multiprotein complex expression experiment, starting from insertion of the genes into an engineered baculoviral genome optimized for heterologous protein production properties to small-scale analysis of the protein specimens produced.5-8 The platform is installed in an open-access mode at EMBL Grenoble and has supported many scientists from academia and industry to accelerate protein complex research projects.

Protein complexes catalyze key cellular functions. Detailed functional and structural characterization of many essential complexes requires recombinant production. MultiBac is a baculovirus/insect cell system particularly tailored for expressing eukaryotic proteins and their complexes. MultiBac was implemented as an open-access platform, and standard operating procedures developed to maximize its utility.

Proteomics  research revealed the impressive complexity of eukaryotic proteomes in  unprecedented detail. It is now a commonly accepted notion that ...

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation: A High Throughput Quantitative Method to Study Protein-protein Interaction

Among methods to study protein-protein interaction inside cells, Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) is relatively simple and sensitive. BiFC is based on the production of fluorescence using two non-fluorescent fragments of a fluorescent protein (Venus, a Yellow Fluorescent Protein variant, is used here). Non-fluorescent Venus fragments (VN and VC) are fused to two interacting proteins (in this case, AKAP-Lbc and PDE4D3), yielding fluorescence due to VN-AKAP-Lbc-VC-PDE4D3 interaction and the formation of a functional fluorescent protein inside cells.
BiFC provides information on the subcellular localization of protein complexes and the strength of protein interactions based on fluorescence intensity. However, BiFC analysis using microscopy to quantify the strength of protein-protein interaction is time-consuming and somewhat subjective due to heterogeneity in protein expression and interaction. By coupling flow cytometric analysis with BiFC methodology, the fluorescent BiFC protein-protein interaction signal can be accurately measured for a large quantity of cells in a short time. Here, we demonstrate an application of this methodology to map regions in PDE4D3 that are required for the interaction with AKAP-Lbc. This high throughput methodology can be applied to screening factors that regulate protein-protein interaction.

Flow cytometric analysis of Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation provides a high throughput quantitative method to study protein-protein interaction. This methodology can be applied to mapping protein binding sites and for screening factors that regulate protein-protein interaction.

Among methods to study protein-protein interaction inside cells, Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) is relatively simple and sensitive. BiFC ...

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Centrosomes are conserved microtubule-based organelles whose structure and function change dramatically throughout the cell cycle and cell differentiation. Centrosomes are essential to determine the cell division axis during mitosis and to nucleate cilia during interphase. The identity of the proteins that mediate these dynamic changes remains only partially known, and the function of many of the proteins that have been implicated in these processes is still rudimentary. Recent work has shown that Drosophila spermatogenesis provides a powerful system to identify new proteins critical for centrosome function and formation as well as to gain insight into the particular function of known players in centrosome-related processes. Drosophila is an established genetic model organism where mutants in centrosomal genes can be readily obtained and easily analyzed. Furthermore, recent advances in the sensitivity and resolution of light microscopy and the development of robust genetically tagged centrosomal markers have transformed the ability to use Drosophila testes as a simple and accessible model system to study centrosomes. This paper describes the use of genetically-tagged centrosomal markers to perform genetic screens for new centrosomal mutants and to gain insight into the specific function of newly identified genes.

Imaging of centrosomal proteins during Drosophila spermatogenesis is a powerful method to identify new proteins critical for centrosome biology as well as to elucidate the particular function of known players in this process.

Centrosomes are conserved microtubule-based organelles whose structure and function change dramatically throughout the cell cycle and cell ...

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Heme serves as the prosthetic group for a wide variety of proteins known as hemoproteins, such as hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes. It is involved in various molecular and cellular processes such as gene transcription, translation, cell differentiation and cell proliferation. The biosynthesis levels of heme vary across different tissues and cell types and is altered in diseased conditions such as anemia, neuropathy and cancer. This technique uses [4-14C] 5-aminolevulinic acid ([14C] 5-ALA), one of the early precursors in the heme biosynthesis pathway to measure the levels of heme synthesis in mammalian cells. This assay involves incubation of cells with [14C] 5-ALA followed by extraction of heme and measurement of the radioactivity incorporated into heme. This procedure is accurate and quick. This method measures the relative levels of heme biosynthesis rather than the total heme content. To demonstrate the use of this technique the levels of heme biosynthesis were measured in several mammalian cell lines.

Altered intracellular heme levels are associated with common diseases such as cancer. Thus, there is a need to measure heme biosynthesis levels in diverse cells. The goal of this protocol is to provide a fast and sensitive method to measure and compare the levels of heme synthesis in different cells.

Heme serves as the prosthetic group for a wide variety of proteins known as hemoproteins, such as hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes. It is involved in ...

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.

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.

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

Green Fluorescent Protein-based Expression Screening of Membrane Proteins in Escherichia coli

The production of recombinant membrane proteins for structural and functional studies remains technically challenging due to low levels of expression and the inherent instability of many membrane proteins once solubilized in detergents. A protocol is described that combines ligation independent cloning of membrane proteins as GFP fusions with expression in Escherichia coli detected by GFP fluorescence. This enables the construction and expression screening of multiple membrane protein/variants to identify candidates suitable for further investment of time and effort. The GFP reporter is used in a primary screen of expression by visualizing GFP fluorescence following SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Membrane proteins that show both a high expression level with minimum degradation as indicated by the absence of free GFP, are selected for a secondary screen. These constructs are scaled and a total membrane fraction prepared and solubilized in four different detergents. Following ultracentrifugation to remove detergent-insoluble material, lysates are analyzed by fluorescence detection size exclusion chromatography (FSEC). Monitoring the size exclusion profile by GFP fluorescence provides information about the mono-dispersity and integrity of the membrane proteins in different detergents. Protein: detergent combinations that elute with a symmetrical peak with little or no free GFP and minimum aggregation are candidates for subsequent purification. Using the above methodology, the heterologous expression in E. coli of SED (shape, elongation, division, and sporulation) proteins from 47 different species of bacteria was analyzed. These proteins typically have ten transmembrane domains and are essential for cell division. The results show that the production of the SEDs orthologues in E. coli was highly variable with respect to the expression levels and integrity of the GFP fusion proteins. The experiment identified a subset for further investigation.

Green Fluorescent Protein-based Expression Screening of Membrane Proteins in Escherichia coli

A streamlined approach to screening for the expression of recombinant membrane proteins in Escherichia coli based on fusion to green fluorescent protein is presented.

The production of recombinant membrane proteins for structural and functional studies remains technically challenging due to low levels of expression and ...

Use of the Ramsay Assay to Measure Fluid Secretion and Ion Flux Rates in the Drosophila melanogaster Malpighian Tubule

Modulation of renal epithelial ion transport allows organisms to maintain ionic and osmotic homeostasis in the face of varying external conditions. The Drosophila&#160;melanogaster Malpighian (renal) tubule offers an unparalleled opportunity to study the molecular mechanisms of epithelial ion transport, due to the powerful genetics of this organism and the accessibility of its renal tubules to physiological study. Here, we describe the use of the Ramsay assay to measure fluid secretion rates from isolated fly renal tubules, with the use of ion-specific electrodes to measure sodium and potassium concentrations in the secreted fluid. This assay allows study of transepithelial fluid and ion fluxes of ~20 tubules at a time, without the need to transfer the secreted fluid to a separate apparatus to measure ion concentrations. Genetically distinct tubules can be analyzed to assess the role of specific genes in transport processes. Additionally, the bathing saline can be modified to examine the effects of its chemical characteristics, or drugs or hormones added. In summary, this technique allows the molecular characterization of basic mechanisms of epithelial ion transport in the Drosophila tubule, as well as regulation of these transport mechanisms.

Use of the Ramsay Assay to Measure Fluid Secretion and Ion Flux Rates in the Drosophila melanogaster Malpighian Tubule

This protocol describes the use of the Ramsay assay to measure fluid secretion rates from isolated Malpighian (renal) tubules from Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, the use of ion-specific electrodes to measure sodium and potassium concentrations in the secreted fluid, allowing calculation of transepithelial ion flux, is described.

Modulation of renal epithelial ion transport allows organisms to maintain ionic and osmotic homeostasis in the face of varying external conditions. The ...

In Vitro Assay to Measure Phosphatidylethanolamine Methyltransferase Activity

Phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferases are biosynthetic enzymes that catalyze the transfer of one or more methyl group(s) from S-adenosyl-L-methionine onto phosphatidylethanolamine, monomethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, or dimethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine to give either monomethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, dimethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine. These enzymes are ubiquitous in animal cells, fungi, and are also found in approximately 10% of bacteria. They fulfill various important functions in cell physiology beyond their direct role in lipid metabolism such as in insulin resistance, diabetes, atherosclerosis, cell growth, or virulence. The present manuscript reports on a simple cell-free enzymatic assay that measures the transfer of tritiated methyl group(s) from S-[Methyl-3H]adenosyl-L-methionine onto phosphatidylethanolamine using whole cell extracts as an enzyme source. The resulting methylated forms of phosphatidylethanolamine are hydrophobic and thus, can be separated from water soluble S-[Methyl-3H]adenosyl-L-methionine by organic extraction. This assay can potentially be applied to any other cell types and used to test inhibitors/drugs specific to a phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase of interest without the need to purify the enzyme.

In Vitro Assay to Measure Phosphatidylethanolamine Methyltransferase Activity

The present report describes an in vitro enzymatic assay to measure phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase activity using Leishmania cell extracts. This assay is based on the transfer of a radioactive methyl group from S-[Methyl-3H]adenosyl-L-methionine onto endogenous phosphatidylethanolamine.