Name: brain membrane fractionation: an ex vivo approach to assess subsynaptic protein localization
Uploaded: 2017-05-12T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Brain Membrane Fractionation: An Ex Vivo Approach to Assess Subsynaptic Protein Localization at JoVE.com

This work was supported by Ministerio de Econom&#236;a y Competitividad/Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAF2014-55700-P, PCIN-2013-019-C03-03 and PIE14/00034), Instituci&#242; Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avan&#231;ats (ICREA Academia-2010), and Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie (SBO-140028) to F. C. Also, X. M, V. F.-D., and F. C. belong to the "Neuropharmacology and Pain" accredited research group (Generalitat de Catalunya,2014 SGR 1251). The work was also supported by the "Programa Pesquisador Visitante Especial-Ci&#234;ncia sem Fronteiras" from CAPES (Brazil) to F.C.

All animal experimental procedures were approved by the University of Barcelona Committee on Animal Use and Care (CEEA), in compliance with the guidelines described in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals11 and following the European Community, law 86/609/CCE, FELASA, and ARRIVE guidelines. Thus, mice are housed in standard cages, with ad libitum access to food and water, and are maintained under controlled standard conditions (12 h dark/light cycle starting at 7:30 AM, 22...

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The protocol presented here constitutes a powerful biochemical tool for the study of the subsynaptic distribution of specific proteins within any brain region. However, there are some drawbacks inherent to the technique that deserve to be highlighted here. For instance, one of the main limitations is the relatively large amount of tissue needed to purify a reasonable amount of protein in order to perform the immunoblot analysis of all subsynaptic fractions. This issue might be related to the fact that synapses (i.e.,...

Synaptic transmission relies on the physical integrity of the synapse, a concept that was envisaged as early as 1897 by Foster and Sherrington1. Thus, understanding the distribution of key neurotransmission components (e.g., ion channels, receptors, etc.) is essential to elucidate synaptic function, both in normal and pathological conditions. Electron microscopy (EM) has contributed enormously to the current ultrastructural notion of prototypical central nervous system (CNS) synapses. In such a way, EM has finely established the differences between pre- and postsynaptic densities, which are separated by a cleft of a rather uniform distance (~25 nm)2. Interestingly, the postsynaptic apparatus exhibits a relatively continuous, electron-dense thickening below its plasma membrane, the so-called postsynaptic density, or PSD2. Conversely, at the presynaptic apparatus, a noticeable discontinuous cytomatrix network is arranged just beneath the plasma membrane, which is essential to the alignment and docking of synaptic vesicles to the plasma membrane active zone3. Hence, EM constitutes the golden experimental approach to survey the distribution of proteins within structurally preserved CNS synapses. However, the information provided by electron micrographs is static. Indeed, accumulating evidences show that in vivo synapses are extremely dynamic, thus experiencing dramatic structural changes upon sustained synaptic transmission. In addition, the morphology and composition of synapses can change throughout different CNS regions and upon development, maturation, aging, and the development of neuropathological conditions. Overall, a protocol focused on isolating proteins belonging to different synaptic compartments in physiological conditions represents a valuable tool for a more comprehensive study of synaptic functioning.
Here, we describe this kind of complementary experimental approach, which allows for the preparative biochemical enrichment of the different synaptic membrane compartments-namely, extra-, pre- and postsynaptic membrane domains. This membrane fractionation method, first described by Philips et al. (2001)4, is based on a pH shift that weakens the adhesive interactions occurring within the pre- and postsynaptic apparatus. First, by using mild detergents at pH 6.0, it is possible to discern the adherens junction that holds the pre- and postsynaptic apparatus and that is maintained from the extrasynaptic membrane domain, which is solubilized and thus can be extracted from the synaptic contacts. Subsequently, raising the pH from 6.0 to 8.0 in the presence of mild detergents weakens the strength of the adherens junction that keeps the presynaptic active zone tightly bound to the postsynaptic density. Hence, the presynaptic compartment is solubilized and can be separated from the postsynaptic density, which is mostly preserved because the concentration of detergent used does not promote its solubilization4. Interestingly, the fractionation efficiency, eventually higher than 90%, can be confirmed by different subsynaptic markers: i) synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25), from the presynaptic active zone; ii) synaptophysin, from the extrasynaptic fraction (i.e., outside the active zone and including microsomes); and iii) postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), from the postsynaptic density. Notably, this brain membrane fractionation method has been used successfully. Accordingly, it has been possible to precisely determine the subsynaptic localization of different receptors, such as alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors5, adenosine A1 receptor (A1R)6, adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)7, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) P2 receptors8, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits9, and Parkinson&#39;s disease-associated receptor GPR3710. However, a number of limitations may impede the proper assessment of the synaptic distribution of a particular neuronal protein. Thus, in this procedure, we not only fully describe the entire protocol, but we also highlight some critical points to be considered, such as the rather large amount of tissue needed, the low protein yield, and the mandatory requirement to validate the efficiency of each separation before performing the definite experiment.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Sucrose</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,316,211,211</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">CaCl2</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">2,112,211,210</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">MgCl2&#183;6H2O</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,313,961,210</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">Protease inhibitor cocktail Set III</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Millipore, Darmstadt, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">535140</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Trizma Base</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">T1503</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Tris-HCl</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,236,541,209</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Triton X-100</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">X100</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">SDS</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">L3771</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">G5516</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Bromophenol Blue</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,311,651,604</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Dithiothreitol</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">D0632</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Tween 20</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">P2287</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Non fat dry milk</td>
			<td style="width:249px;"></td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,216,591,211</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">KCl</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,314,941,210</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">KH2PO4</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">4873</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Na2HPO4</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pancreac Qu&#237;mica SL, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">1,316,781,211</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Basic 20 pH</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Crison, Alella, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">Polytron VDI 12 Adaptable Homogenizer</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">VWR, Radnor, PA, USA.</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="65">
			<td height="65" style="height:65px;width:128px;">Ultra-Clear Tubes (14x89mm)</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Beckman Coulter, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">344059</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Tubes should be filled almost completely when used to prevent collapsing due to ultracentrifugation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:128px;">Amicon Ultra-15 Centrifugal filters Ultracel -10K</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Merck Millipore, Darmstadt, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">UFC901008</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Centrifuge 5430R</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Eppendorf, Hamburgo, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">Optima L-90K Ultracentrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Beckman Coulter, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Sonifier 250</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Branson, Danbury, Connecticut</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:128px;">Amersham Imager 600</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">GE Healthcare Europe GmbH, Barcelona, Spain</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:128px;">Disposable Glass Pasteur Pippetes 230 mm</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">VWR, Radnor, PA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;">612-1702</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">Compact Balance EK-610</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">A&#38;D, Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">Pierce&#8482; BCA Protein Assay Kit</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford, IL, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:128px;">SuperSignal west pico chemiluminescent substrate</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">GR 200 Precision Balance</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">A&#38;D, Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:128px;">Anti-GPR37</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Homemade antibody anti-GPR37 produced and validated in Francisco Ciruela Laboratory.</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Primary antibodies used at a final concentration of 0.250ug/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:128px;">Anti-SNAP-25, anti-PSD-95, anti-synaptophysin</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Abcam, Cambridge, United Kingdom</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Primary antibodies diluted 1:10000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA.</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Secondary antibody diluted 1:10000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;width:128px;">HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG</td>
			<td style="width:249px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA.</td>
			<td style="width:160px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Secondary antibody diluted 1:30000</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

brain membrane fractionation: an ex vivo approach to assess subsynaptic protein localization

Assessing the synaptic protein composition and function constitutes an important challenge in neuroscience. However, it is not easy to evaluate neurotransmission that occurs within synapses because it is highly regulated by dynamic protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation events. Accordingly, when any method is used to study synaptic transmission, a major goal is to preserve these transient physiological modifications. Here, we present a brain membrane fractionation protocol that represents a robust procedure to isolate proteins belonging to different synaptic compartments. In other words, the protocol describes a biochemical methodology to carry out protein enrichment from presynaptic, postsynaptic, and extrasynaptic compartments. First, synaptosomes, or synaptic terminals, are obtained from neurons that contain all synaptic compartments by means of a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Of note, the quality of this initial synaptic membrane preparation is critical. Subsequently, the isolation of the different subsynaptic compartments is achieved with light solubilization using mild detergents at differential pH conditions. This allows for separation by gradient and isopycnic centrifugations. Finally, protein enrichment at the different subsynaptic compartments (i.e., pre-, post- and extrasynaptic membrane fractions) is validated by means of immunoblot analysis using well-characterized synaptic protein markers (i.e., SNAP-25, PSD-95, and synaptophysin, respectively), thus enabling a direct assessment of the synaptic distribution of any particular neuronal protein.

The described methodology has been largely used for the subsynaptic analysis of neuronal proteins in general and for the isolation and biochemical characterization of synaptic receptors5,6,7,8,9 in particular. Interestingly, the representative result displayed here show the usefulness of this experimental procedure for the anal...

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Brain Membrane Fractionation: An Ex Vivo Approach to Assess Subsynaptic Protein Localization

Here, we present a brain membrane fractionation protocol that represents a robust procedure to isolate proteins belonging to different synaptic compartments.

Brain Membrane Fractionation: An Ex Vivo Approach to Assess Subsynaptic Protein Localization

Assessing the synaptic protein composition and function constitutes an important challenge in neuroscience. However, it is not easy to evaluate ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to isolate proteins belonging to different synaptic compartments from mice brain. Describing the distribution of kinetic transmissioncomponents is essential to understand synaptic function both in normal and pathological conditions. Accumulating evidence show that in vivo synapses are extremely dynamic and can undergo dramatic structural changes open sustaining synaptic transmission.Synapses have been classically studied by means of electron microscopy. This membrane fractionation method is based on combination of laser obliteration using mild detergents under different pH conditions followed by split second centrifugation. In brief, mouse brain is removed and its hippocampus is carefully dissected in a nice cold dish seated on crushed ice.The hippocampi are collected into a Potter-Elvehjem glass tube containing ice cold isolation buffer. Subsequently, the collected tissue is homogenized using a homogenizing stirrer. Next the homogenized tissue is mixed with a sucrose calcium solution.Then the tissue extract is overlaid with a concentrated sucrose calcium solution. The samples are then centrifuged. The membrane fraction containing synaptosomes is easily recognized as a dense ring floating within the sucrose solution's interface.Subsequently the isolation of the different sub-synaptic compartments, namely extra, pre, and post synaptic fractions is achieved by combining light solubilization using mild detergents upon differentiation pH condition. Finally, the protein enrichment at the different compartments is validated by immunoblot analysis. The day of the experiment prepare fresh solutions and chill them on ice.Place the brain in a Petri dish seating on crushed ice and containing 10 milliliters of ice cold isolation buffer. Carefully dissect the hippocampus with the help of a pair of forceps. Transfer the hippocampi into a five milliliters Potter-Elvehjem glass tube containing one milliliter of ice-cold isolation buffer.And then homogenize using a homogenizing stirrer. Transfer the homogenized tissue into a 15 milliliters Falcon tube containing the sucrose and calcium solution and mix it slowly by inverting the tube. Place the solution in an ultra-clear centrifuge tube and add on top of each tube 2.5 milliliters of sucrose containing calcium chloride.And calibrate the tubes with isolation buffer solution and centrifuge for three hours at 100, 000 G at four degrees in an ultra centrifuge. Carefully remove the tube from the centrifuge steel support and identify the dense ring within the sucrose interface which contains the synaptosomes. Discard the top mailing layer with the help of a blue tip.With a Pasteur pipette, collect the dense ring containing the synaptosomes fractions and transfer into an ultra-clear centrifuge tube and keep on crushed ice. Dilute the synaptosomes with nine volume of ice cold isolation buffer and centrifuge for 30 minutes at 15, 000 G at four degrees. After centrifugation, remove the tube.Discard the supernatant. A pellet containing the synaptosomes should be seen. Resuspend the pellet with 1.1 milliliters of isolation buffer and keep on crushed ice for the next step.Make fresh solutions with the corresponding pH adjusted at four degrees. Add slowly one milliliter of the resuspended synaptosomal pellet into five milliliters of calcium chloride in a beaker on ice under continuous agitation. Subsequently at five milliliters of concentrated solubilization buffer pH 6.After 50 minutes on ice, transfer the solution into an ultra-clear centrifuge tube and centrifuge at 40, 000 G for 30 minutes at four degrees. After centrifugation, remove the tube. A pellet containing the pre and post-synaptic fraction should be observed.The supernatant containing the extra synaptic fraction is collected in a 15 milliliters concentrating tube. Carefully wash the pellet with the two milliliters solubilization buffer pH six. Avoid disrupting the pellet and discard the buffer.At 10 milliliters of solubilizing buffer pH eight to the pellet, and titrate with the aid of a Pasteur pipette. Incubate a beaker on ice under continuous agitation during 50 minutes. Transfer the solution into an ultra-clear centrifuge tube and centrifuge at 40, 000 G for 30 minutes at four degrees.After centrifugation, remove the tube. A pellet containing the post-synaptic fraction should be observed. The supernatant containing the pre-synaptic fraction is collected in a 15 milliliters concentrating tube.The pellet containing the post-synaptic fraction is resuspended with 200 microliters of STS solution. Sonicate the resuspended pellet. Assess the amount of protein in each fraction by means of a protein determination assay.Take 20 micrograms of protein from each fraction and treat with STS Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis sample buffer. Separate proteins by STS Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis and analyze by immunoblot. GPR37 is another fancy protein global receptor mostly in rodent brain.Implicated in different pathologies such as Parkinson's disease or major depression, its function remains abnormal. Studying the presence of this receptor in synapses can help decipher its role in the central nervous system. Synaptosomes from wild type and GPR37 knockout mice were isolated and subsequently fractionated.The purity of each sub-synaptic compartment was warrantied by the segregation of the respective synaptic markers. The extra synaptic vesicular marker synaptophysin was enriched in this extra synaptic fraction. The BSD 95 protein, a classical post-synaptic density marker was enriched in the corresponding post synaptic fraction.Finally, the purity of pre synaptic fraction was validated by the presence of SNAP 25 a pre synaptic active zone marker. Interestingly while GPR 37 immuno reactivity was more abundant in the extra synaptic fraction, it also showed a significant preference for the post synaptic over the pre-synaptic fraction. Assessing the sub synaptic protein composition is an important challenge in neuroscience.However, this is not an easy task since it is highly regulated by protein protein interaction ribbons. Here we present a brain membrane fractionation protocol that represent a robust procedure to select proteins belonging to different synaptic compartments. In other words, it is described of your chemical technology to carry out protein enrichment from pre synaptic, post synaptic, and extra synaptic compartments.Goodbye and good luck with your fractionation experiments.

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Biochemistry

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Studies of integral membrane proteins in vitro are frequently complicated by the presence of a hydrophobic transmembrane domain. Further complicating these studies, reincorporation of detergent-solubilized membrane proteins into liposomes is a stochastic process where protein topology is impossible to enforce. This paper offers an alternative method to these challenging techniques that utilizes a liposome-based scaffold. Protein solubility is enhanced by deletion of the transmembrane domain, and these amino acids are replaced with a tethering moiety, such as a His-tag. This tether interacts with an anchoring group (Ni2+ coordinated by nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA(Ni2+)) for His-tagged proteins), which enforces a uniform protein topology at the surface of the liposome. An example is presented wherein the interaction between Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) with an integral membrane protein, Mitochondrial Fission Factor (Mff), was investigated using this scaffold liposome method. In this work, we have demonstrated the ability of Mff to efficiently recruit soluble Drp1 to the surface of liposomes, which stimulated its GTPase activity. Moreover, Drp1 was able to tubulate the Mff-decorated lipid template in the presence of specific lipids. This example demonstrates the effectiveness of scaffold liposomes using structural and functional assays and highlights the role of Mff in regulating Drp1 activity.

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

This paper describes a method for assessing the interactions and assemblies of integral membrane proteins in vitro with various partner factors in a lipid-proximal environment.

Studies of integral membrane proteins in vitro are frequently complicated by the presence of a hydrophobic transmembrane domain. Further complicating ...

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and  GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay

The Rho GTPase family belongs to the Ras superfamily and includes approximately 20 members in humans. Rho GTPases are important in the regulation of diverse cellular functions, including cytoskeletal dynamics, cell motility, cell polarity, axonal guidance, vesicular trafficking, and cell cycle control. Changes in Rho GTPase signaling play an essential regulatory role in many pathological conditions, such as&#160;cancer, central nervous system diseases, and immune system-dependent diseases. The posttranslational modification of Rho GTPases (i.e., prenylation by mevalonate pathway intermediates) and GTP binding are key factors which affect the activation of this protein. In this paper, two essential and simple methods are provided to detect a broad range of Rho GTPase prenylation and GTP binding activities. Details of the technical procedures that have been used are explained step by step in this manuscript.

Here we describe a protocol to investigate the prenylation and guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-loading of Rho GTPase. This protocol consists of two detailed methods, namely membrane fractionation and a GTPase-linked immunosorbent assay. The protocol can be used for measuring the prenylation and GTP loading of different other small GTPases.

The Rho GTPase family belongs to the Ras superfamily and includes approximately 20 members in humans. Rho GTPases are important in the regulation of ...

An Oligonucleotide-based Tandem RNA Isolation Procedure to Recover Eukaryotic mRNA-Protein Complexes

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play key roles in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Therefore, biochemical characterization of mRNA-protein complexes is essential to understanding mRNA regulation inferred by interacting proteins or non-coding RNAs. Herein, we describe a tandem RNA isolation procedure (TRIP) that enables the purification of endogenously formed mRNA-protein complexes from cellular extracts. The two-step protocol involves the isolation of polyadenylated mRNAs with antisense oligo(dT) beads and subsequent capture of an mRNA of interest with 3&#39;-biotinylated 2&#39;-O-methylated antisense RNA oligonucleotides, which can then be isolated with streptavidin beads. TRIP was used to recover in vivo crosslinked mRNA-ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes from yeast, nematodes and human cells for further RNA and protein analysis. Thus, TRIP is a versatile approach that can be adapted to all types of polyadenylated RNAs across organisms to study the dynamic re-arrangement of mRNPs imposed by intracellular or environmental cues.

A tandem RNA isolation procedure (TRIP) for recovery of endogenously formed mRNA-protein complexes is described. Specifically, RNA-protein complexes are crosslinked in vivo, polyadenylated RNAs are isolated from extracts with oligo(dT) beads, and particular mRNAs are captured with modified RNA antisense oligonucleotides. Proteins bound to mRNAs are detected by immunoblot analysis.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play key roles in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Therefore, biochemical characterization of mRNA-protein ...

Analysis of Thylakoid Membrane Protein Complexes by Blue Native Gel Electrophoresis

Photosynthetic electron transfer chain (ETC) converts solar energy to chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP. Four large protein complexes embedded in the thylakoid membrane harvest solar energy to drive electrons from water to NADP+ via two photosystems, and use the created proton gradient for production of ATP. Photosystem PSII, PSI, cytochrome b6f (Cyt b6f) and ATPase are all multiprotein complexes with distinct orientation and dynamics in the thylakoid membrane. Valuable information about the composition and interactions of the protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane can be obtained by solubilizing the complexes from the membrane integrity by mild detergents followed by native gel electrophoretic separation of the complexes. Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) is an analytical method used for the separation of protein complexes in their native and functional form. The method can be used for protein complex purification for more detailed structural analysis, but it also provides a tool to dissect the dynamic interactions between the protein complexes. The method was developed for the analysis of mitochondrial respiratory protein complexes, but has since been optimized and improved for the dissection of the thylakoid protein complexes. Here, we provide a detailed up-to-date protocol for analysis of labile photosynthetic protein complexes and their interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana.

A protocol for the elucidation of plant thylakoid protein complex organization and composition with blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) and 2D-SDS-PAGE is described. The protocol is optimized for Arabidopsis thaliana, but can be used for other plant species with minor modifications.

Photosynthetic electron transfer chain (ETC) converts solar energy to chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP. Four large protein complexes embedded ...

Preparation of Chloroplast Sub-compartments from Arabidopsis for the Analysis of Protein Localization by Immunoblotting or Proteomics

Chloroplasts are major components of plant cells. Such plastids fulfill many crucial functions, such as assimilation of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen as well as synthesis of essential metabolites. These organelles consist of the following three key sub-compartments. The envelope, characterized by two membranes, surrounds the organelle and controls the communication of the plastid with other cell compartments. The stroma is the soluble phase of the chloroplast and the main site where carbon dioxide is converted into carbohydrates. The thylakoid membrane is the internal membrane network consisting of grana (flat compressed sacs) and lamellae (less dense structures), where oxygenic photosynthesis takes place. The present protocol describes step by step procedures required for the purification, using differential centrifugations and Percoll gradients, of intact chloroplasts from Arabidopsis, and their fractionation, using sucrose gradients, in three sub-compartments (i.e., envelope, stroma, and thylakoids). This protocol also provides instructions on how to assess the purity of these fractions using markers associated to the various chloroplast sub-compartments. The method described here is valuable for subplastidial localization of proteins using immunoblotting, but also for subcellular and subplastidial proteomics and other studies.

Here, we describe a method to purify intact chloroplasts from Arabidopsis leaves and their three main sub-compartments (envelope, stroma, and thylakoids), using a combination of differential centrifugations, continuous Percoll gradients, and discontinuous sucrose gradients. The method is valuable for subplastidial and subcellular localization of proteins by immunoblotting and proteomics.

Chloroplasts are major components of plant cells. Such plastids fulfill many crucial functions, such as assimilation of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen as ...

A Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy Assay of Protein-Protein Interactions at Cell-Cell Contacts

A variety of biological processes involves cell-cell interactions, typically mediated by proteins that interact at the interface between neighboring cells. Of interest, only few assays are capable of specifically probing such interactions directly in living cells. Here, we present an assay to measure the binding of proteins expressed at the surfaces of neighboring cells, at cell-cell contacts. This assay consists of two steps: mixing of cells expressing the proteins of interest fused to different fluorescent proteins, followed by fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy measurements at cell-cell contacts using a confocal laser scanning microscope. We demonstrate the feasibility of this assay in a biologically relevant context by measuring the interactions of the amyloid precursor-like protein 1 (APLP1) across cell-cell junctions. We provide detailed protocols on the data acquisition using fluorescence-based techniques (scanning fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy, cross-correlation number and brightness analysis) and the required instrument calibrations. Further, we discuss critical steps in the data analysis and how to identify and correct external, spurious signal variations, such as those due to photobleaching or cell movement.
In general, the presented assay is applicable to any homo- or heterotypic protein-protein interaction at cell-cell contacts, between cells of the same or different types and can be implemented on a commercial confocal laser scanning microscope. An important requirement is the stability of the system, which needs to be sufficient to probe diffusive dynamics of the proteins of interest over several minutes.

This protocol describes a fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy-based approach to investigate interactions among proteins mediating cell-cell interactions, i.e. proteins localized in cell junctions, directly in living cells. We provide detailed guidelines on instrument calibration, data acquisition and analysis, including corrections to possible artefact sources.

A variety of biological processes involves cell-cell interactions, typically mediated by proteins that interact at the interface between neighboring ...

Evaluation of Protein&#8211;Protein Interactions using an On-Membrane Digestion Technique

Numerous intracellular proteins physically interact in accordance with their intracellular and extracellular circumstances. Indeed, cellular functions largely depend on intracellular protein&#8211;protein interactions. Therefore, research regarding these interactions is indispensable to facilitating the understanding of physiologic processes. Co-precipitation of associated proteins, followed by mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, enables the identification of novel protein interactions. In this study, we have provided details of the novel technique of immunoprecipitation-liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS analysis combined with on-membrane digestion for the analysis of protein&#8211;protein interactions. This technique is suitable for crude immunoprecipitants and can improve the throughput of proteomic analyses. Tagged recombinant proteins were precipitated using specific antibodies; next, immunoprecipitants blotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane pieces were subjected to reductive alkylation. Following trypsinization, the digested protein residues were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Using this technique, we were able to identify several candidate associated proteins. Thus, this method is convenient and useful for the characterization of novel protein&#8211;protein interactions.

Here, we present a protocol for an on-membrane digestion technique for the preparation of samples for mass spectrometry. This technique facilitates the convenient analysis of protein&#8211;protein interactions.

Numerous intracellular proteins physically interact in accordance with their intracellular and extracellular circumstances. Indeed, cellular functions ...

Interactions with and Membrane Permeabilization of Brain Mitochondria by Amyloid Fibrils

A growing body of evidence indicates that membrane permeabilization, including internal membranes such as mitochondria, is a common feature and primary mechanism of amyloid aggregate-induced toxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. However, most reports describing the mechanisms of membrane disruption are based on phospholipid model systems, and studies directly targeting events occurring at the level of biological membranes are rare. Described here is a model for studying the mechanisms of amyloid toxicity at the membrane level. For mitochondrial isolation, density gradient medium is used to obtain preparations with minimal myelin contamination. After mitochondrial membrane integrity confirmation, the interaction of amyloid fibrils arising from &#945;-synuclein, bovine insulin, and hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) with rat brain mitochondria, as an in vitro biological model, is investigated. The results demonstrate that treatment of brain mitochondria with fibrillar assemblies can cause different degrees of membrane permeabilization and ROS content enhancement. This indicates structure-dependent interactions between amyloid fibrils and mitochondrial membrane. It is suggested that biophysical properties of amyloid fibrils and their specific binding to mitochondrial membranes may provide explanations for some of these observations.

Provided here is a protocol for investigating the interactions between native form, prefibrillar, and mature amyloid fibrils of different peptides and proteins with mitochondria isolated from different tissues and various areas of the brain.

A growing body of evidence indicates that membrane permeabilization, including internal membranes such as mitochondria, is a common feature and primary ...

Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis

Protein-protein interactions in cell membrane systems play crucial roles in a wide range of biological processes- from cell-to-cell interactions to signal transduction; from sensing environmental signals to biological response; from metabolic regulation to developmental control. Accurate structural information of protein-protein interactions is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms of membrane protein complexes and for the design of highly specific molecules to modulate these proteins. Many in vivo and in vitro approaches have been developed for the detection and analysis of protein-protein interactions. Among them the structural biology approach is unique in that it can provide direct structural information of protein-protein interactions at the atomic level. However, current membrane protein structural biology is still largely limited to detergent-based methods. The major drawback of detergent-based methods is that they often dissociate or denature membrane protein complexes once their native lipid bilayer environment is removed by detergent molecules. We have been developing a&#160;native cell membrane nanoparticle system for membrane protein structural biology. Here, we demonstrate the use of this system in the analysis of protein-protein interactions on the cell membrane with a case study of the oligomeric state of AcrB.

Presented here is a protocol for the determination of oligomeric state of membrane proteins that utilizes a native cell membrane nanoparticle system in conjunction with electron microscopy.

Protein-protein interactions in cell membrane systems play crucial roles in a wide range of biological processes- from cell-to-cell interactions to signal ...

Polysome Profiling without Gradient Makers or Fractionation Systems

Polysome fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation is a powerful tool that can be used to create ribosome profiles, identify specific mRNAs being translated by ribosomes, and analyze polysome associated factors. While automated gradient makers and gradient fractionation systems are commonly used with this technique, these systems are generally expensive and can be cost-prohibitive for laboratories that have limited resources or cannot justify the expense due to their infrequent or occasional need to perform this method for their research. Here, a protocol is presented to reproducibly generate polysome profiles using standard equipment available in most molecular biology laboratories without specialized fractionation instruments. Moreover, a comparison of polysome profiles generated with and without a gradient fractionation system is provided. Strategies to optimize and produce reproducible polysome profiles are discussed. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is utilized as a model organism in this protocol. However, this protocol can be easily modified and adapted to generate ribosome profiles for many different organisms and cell types.

This protocol describes how to generate a polysome profile without using automated gradient makers or gradient fractionation systems.

Polysome fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation is a powerful tool that can be used to create ribosome profiles, identify specific mRNAs ...