We thank Dr. Michael Stern and his lab for their insights and feedback on atlastin related projects. This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences [R01GM101377] and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [R01NS102676].

1. Purification of GST-DAtl-His8
<ol>
	<li>Protein expression and lysate preparation
	<ol>
		<li>Transform BL21 (DE3) E. coli with the GST-DAtl-His8 construct in pGEX4-T32 and select on an ampicillin plate.</li>
		<li>Select a single transformant and inoculate 5 mL of LB + ampicillin (5 &#181;L of 100 mg/mL ampicillin) in a 14 mL culture tube and incubate at 25 &#176;C with shaking at 200 rpm for 6-8 h. 
		NOTE: Due to leaky expression, it is not recommended to...

<ol>
	<li>Chernomordik, L. V., Kozlov, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanics+of+membrane+fusion.">Mechanics of membrane fusion.</a> Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. 15, 675-683 (2008).</li><li>Orso, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Homotypic+fusion+of+ER+membranes+requires+the+dynamin-like+GTPase+Atlastin.">Homotypic fusion of ER membranes requires the dynamin-like GTPase Atlastin.</a> Nature. 460, 978-983 (2009).</li><li>McNew, J. A., Sondermann, H., Lee, T., Stern, M., Brandizzi, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=GTP-dependent+membrane+fusion.">GTP-dependent membrane fusion.</a> Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 29, 529-550 (2013).</li><li>Rigaud, J. L., Pitard, B., Levy, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reconstitution+of+membrane+proteins+into+liposomes:+application+to+energy-transducing+membrane+proteins.">Reconstitution of membrane proteins into liposomes: application to energy-transducing membrane proteins.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics. 1231, 223-246 (1995).</li><li>D&#252;zg&#252;ne&#351;, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescence+Assays+for+Liposome+Fusion.">Fluorescence Assays for Liposome Fusion.</a> Methods in Enzymology. 372, 260-274 (2003).</li><li>Wilschut, J., Duzgunes, N., Fraley, R., Papahadjopoulos, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Studies+on+the+mechanism+of+membrane+fusion:+kinetics+of+calcium+ion+induced+fusion+of+phosphatidylserine+vesicles+followed+by+a+new+assay+for+mixing+of+aqueous+vesicle+contents.">Studies on the mechanism of membrane fusion: kinetics of calcium ion induced fusion of phosphatidylserine vesicles followed by a new assay for mixing of aqueous vesicle contents.</a> Biochemistry. 19, 6011-6021 (1980).</li><li>Ellens, H., Bentz, J., Szoka, F. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Proton-+and+calcium-induced+fusion+and+destabilization+of+liposomes.">Proton- and calcium-induced fusion and destabilization of liposomes.</a> Biochemistry. 24, 3099-3106 (1985).</li><li>Meers, P., Ali, S., Erukulla, R., Janoff, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+inner+monolayer+fusion+assays+reveal+differential+monolayer+mixing+associated+with+cation-dependent+membrane+fusion.">Novel inner monolayer fusion assays reveal differential monolayer mixing associated with cation-dependent membrane fusion.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes. 1467, 277-243 (2000).</li><li>Schaffner, W., Weissmann, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+rapid,+sensitive,+and+specific+method+for+the+determination+of+protein+in+dilute+solution.">A rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the determination of protein in dilute solution.</a> Analytical Biochemistry. 56, 502-514 (1973).</li><li>MacDonald, R. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Small-volume+extrusion+apparatus+for+preparation+of+large,+unilamellar+vesicles.">Small-volume extrusion apparatus for preparation of large, unilamellar vesicles.</a> Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. 1061, 297-303 (1991).</li><li>Paternostre, M. T., Roux, M., Rigaud, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+membrane+protein+insertion+into+liposomes+during+reconstitution+procedures+involving+the+use+of+detergents.+1.+Solubilization+of+large+unilamellar+liposomes+(prepared+by+reverse-phase+evaporation)+by+Triton+X-100,+octyl+glucoside,+and+sodium+cholate.">Mechanisms of membrane protein insertion into liposomes during reconstitution procedures involving the use of detergents. 1. Solubilization of large unilamellar liposomes (prepared by reverse-phase evaporation) by Triton X-100, octyl glucoside, and sodium cholate.</a> Biochemistry. 27, 2668-2677 (1988).</li><li>Scott, B. 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=Liposome+Fusion+Assay+to+Monitor+Intracellular+Membrane+Fusion+Machines.">Liposome Fusion Assay to Monitor Intracellular Membrane Fusion Machines.</a> Methods in Enzymology. 372, 274-300 (2003).</li><li>Zhang, W., 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=Crystal+structure+of+an+orthomyxovirus+matrix+protein+reveals+mechanisms+for+self-polymerization+and+membrane+association.">Crystal structure of an orthomyxovirus matrix protein reveals mechanisms for self-polymerization and membrane association.</a> PNAS. 114, 8550-8555 (2017).</li><li>Parlati, 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=Rapid+and+efficient+fusion+of+phospholipid+vesicles+by+the+&#945;-helical+core+of+a+SNARE+complex+in+the+absence+of+an+N-terminal+regulatory+domain.">Rapid and efficient fusion of phospholipid vesicles by the &#945;-helical core of a SNARE complex in the absence of an N-terminal regulatory domain.</a> PNAS. 96, 12565-12570 (1999).</li><li>Sugiura, S., Mima, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physiological+lipid+composition+is+vital+for+homotypic+ER+membrane+fusion+mediated+by+the+dynamin-related+GTPase+Sey1p.">Physiological lipid composition is vital for homotypic ER membrane fusion mediated by the dynamin-related GTPase Sey1p.</a> Scientific Reports. 6, 20407 (2016).</li><li>Powers, R. E., Wang, S., Liu, T. Y., Rapoport, T. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reconstitution+of+the+tubular+endoplasmic+reticulum+network+with+purified+components.">Reconstitution of the tubular endoplasmic reticulum network with purified components.</a> Nature. 543, 257-260 (2017).</li><li>Betancourt-Solis, M. A., Desai, T., McNew, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+atlastin+membrane+anchor+forms+an+intramembrane+hairpin+that+does+not+span+the+phospholipid+bilayer.">The atlastin membrane anchor forms an intramembrane hairpin that does not span the phospholipid bilayer.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 293, 18514-18524 (2018).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The methods here delineate an efficient method for purifying, reconstituting, and measuring fusion activity of recombinant atlastin. To ensure high yields of functional atlastin some critical steps must be considered. Expression of atlastin must be done at low temperatures (16 &#176;C) to avoid aggregation and one should aim for a final concentration between 0.4&#8211;1.5 mg/mL. Very dilute protein will not be reconstituted optimally at a 1:400 protein to lipid ratio. Reconstitution efficiency can be optionally analyzed ...

Membrane fusion is a critical process in many biological reactions. Under biological conditions, membrane fusion is not spontaneous and requires specialized fusion proteins to catalyze such reactions1. ER homotypic membrane fusion is mediated in animals by the dynamin related GTPase atlastin2. Atlastin&#8217;s role in homotypic fusion is fundamental for three-way junctions in peripheral ER, which constitutes a large interconnected network of tubules that extend throughout the cell. Atlastins have a conserved domain morphology consisting of a large GTPase, a three helix bundle middle domain, a hydrophobic membrane anchor, and a short cytoplasmic C-terminal tail3. In vitro studies with recombinant Drosophila atlastin have shown that when reconstituted to liposomes, it maintains its fusogenic properties. Other atlastins, including human homologs have not been able to recapitulate fusion in vitro. We describe here a methodology for purifying a GST and poly-histidine tagged recombinant Drosophila atlastin, reconstituting it to liposomes, and assaying fusion.
Studying membrane fusion in vitro presents a challenge as fusogenic proteins usually have a membrane anchor. In order to study them, it is necessary to reconstitute them into model lipid bilayers. Large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) are a useful tool to study lipid protein interactions. We present here a system to make LUVs of different lipid compositions for protein reconstitution and fusion assays. Reconstitution of integral proteins into LUVs can be achieved by a variety of methods including, organic solvent-mediated reconstitution, mechanical mechanisms, or detergent assisted reconstitution4. We present here a method for reconstituting Drosophila atlastin into preformed liposomes by detergent removal. Advantages of this reconstitution method include high reconstitution yields and proper orientation of atlastin in the lipid bilayer. Additionally, through this method, the protein is not dried or exposed to organic solvents thereby maintaining structure and function. Among its disadvantages, the presence of detergents may not be ideal for all proteins and the final proteoliposomes may have some incorporated detergent in the lipid bilayer. Further dialysis may be used to eliminate more of the detergent. However, dialysis may take a long time and can therefore lead to loss of protein activity.
Assessing atlastin&#8217;s fusion activity can be determined by lipid mixing assays as previously described2. Here, we delineate a method for measuring atlastin mediated fusion through N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD)/Lissamine rhodamine-B sulfonyl (rhodamine) labeled lipids. This assay requires fusion of donor (labeled) proteoliposomes and acceptor (unlabeled) proteoliposomes. A FRET release can be measured during the reaction as the dilution&#160;of a donor&#8211;acceptor pair from &#8220;labeled&#8221; liposomes to &#8220;unlabeled&#8221; liposomes as a result of lipid mixing during membrane fusion (Figure 1)5. While this assay serves as a proxy for membrane fusion, it is limited in distinguishing between membrane fusion and hemifusion, a state where only the outer leaflets mix. To address this issue, an alternative is outer leaflet quenching of NBD by dithionite. Following the same methodology as NBD/rhodamine lipid mixing assays, upon quenching the outer leaflet any NBD FRET release by fusion will be due to inner leaflet mixing8.
Alternative fusion assays by inner aqueous content mixing address full fusion only5. Examples of this are terbium (Tb)/dipicolinic acid (DPA) assays and aminonaphthalene trisulfonic acid (ANTS)/p-xylene bis(pyridinium) bromide (DPX) assays. In Tb/DPA assays, a pool of liposomes with encapsulated Tb are mixed and fused with liposomes with encapsulated DPA; upon fusion, fluorescence is increased via internal energy transfer from DPA to Tb within the [Tb(DPA)3]3- chelation complex6. In contrast, for ANTS/DPX assays, ANTS fluorescence is quenched by DPX7. While these systems address inner content mixing, more in-depth preparation of liposomes is required for removal of non-encapsulated reagents, as well as unintended interaction of the fluorophores.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL poly-prep chromatography columns</td>
			<td>Biored</td>
			<td>731-1550</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 x 75 mm Flint glass tubes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>608225-402</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>47 mm diameter, 0.45um pore whatman sterile membrane filters</td>
			<td>Whatman</td>
			<td>7141 104</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96 well white plate</td>
			<td>NUNC</td>
			<td>437796</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anapoe X-100</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>9002-931-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell disrupter</td>
			<td>Avestin</td>
			<td>Avestin Emulsiflex C3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DOPS (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (sodium salt))</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>840035P-10mg</td>
			<td>DOPS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA</td>
			<td>Research organics inc.</td>
			<td>6381-92-6</td>
			<td>Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA-free protease inhibitor cocktail</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>11873580001</td>
			<td>Complete protease inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Extruder</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z373400&#160;</td>
			<td>Liposofast Basic Extruder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GE Akta Prime liquid chromatography system</td>
			<td>GE Pharmacia</td>
			<td>8149-30-0006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutathione agarose beads</td>
			<td>Sigma aldrich</td>
			<td>G4510-50ml</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>GX0185-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GTP</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>36051-31-7</td>
			<td>Guanosine 5&#39; triphosphate sodium salt hydrate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES, acid free</td>
			<td>Omnipur</td>
			<td>5330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imidazole</td>
			<td>fluka</td>
			<td>5670</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) resin column</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>17040801</td>
			<td>1 mL HiTrap Chelating HP immobilized metal affinity chromatography columns</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iohexol</td>
			<td>Accurate chemical and scientific corporation</td>
			<td>AN 7050 BLK</td>
			<td>Accudenz/Nycodenz</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IPTG</td>
			<td>Research products international corp.</td>
			<td>I56000-100.0</td>
			<td>IPTG, dioxane free</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutathione reduced</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G4251-5g</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium chloride</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>7791-18-6</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Omnisolv</td>
			<td>MX0488-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NBD-DPPE (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl) (ammonium salt))</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>236495</td>
			<td>NBD-DPPE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-Dodecyl &#946;-D-maltoside</td>
			<td>Chem-Impex International</td>
			<td>21950</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nonpolar polystyrene adsorbent beads</td>
			<td>BioRad</td>
			<td>152-3920</td>
			<td>SM2 Biobeads</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nuclepore track-etch polycarbonate 19 mm 0.1 um pore membrane</td>
			<td>Whatman</td>
			<td>800309</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optima LE80K Ultra centrifuge</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphatidylcholine, L-&#945;-dipalmitoyl [choline methyl-3H]</td>
			<td>ARC</td>
			<td>ART0284</td>
			<td>Titriated lipids</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plate reader</td>
			<td>TECAN</td>
			<td>TECAN infinite M200 plate reader</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine)</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>850457C-25mg</td>
			<td>POPC</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride</td>
			<td>MP</td>
			<td>151944</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rh-DPPE (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl) (ammonium salt))</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>236495</td>
			<td>Rh-DPPE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scintillation Cocktail</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-272</td>
			<td>Ecoscint XR Scintillation solution for aqueous or non-aqueous samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scintillation vials</td>
			<td>Beckman</td>
			<td>592928</td>
			<td>Fast turn cap Mini Poly-Q Vial</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thrombin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T1063-1kU</td>
			<td>Thrombin from human plasma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP151-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultra-clear centrifuge tubes 5 x 41 mm</td>
			<td>Beckman</td>
			<td>344090</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortex 9 to 13mm Tube Holder</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>58816-138</td>
			<td>Insert for vortexing flint glass tubes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortex Insert Retainer</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>58816-132</td>
			<td>Retainer needed for vortex tube holder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortexer</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>2.235074</td>
			<td>Vortex Genie 2 model G560</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#946;-mercaptoethanol molecular biology grade</td>
			<td>Calbiochem</td>
			<td>444203</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

detergent-assisted reconstitution of recombinant drosophila atlastin into liposomes for lipid-mixing assays

Membrane fusion is a crucial process in the eukaryotic cell. Specialized proteins are necessary to catalyze fusion. Atlastins are endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins implicated in homotypic fusion of the ER. We detail here a method for purifying a glutathione S-transferase (GST) and poly-histidine tagged Drosophila atlastin by two rounds of affinity chromatography. Studying fusion reactions in vitro requires purified fusion proteins to be inserted into a lipid bilayer. Liposomes are ideal model membranes, as lipid composition and size may be adjusted. To this end, we describe a reconstitution method by detergent removal for Drosophila atlastin into preformed liposomes. While several reconstitution methods are available, reconstitution by detergent removal has several advantages that make it suitable for atlastins and other similar proteins. The advantage of this method includes a high reconstitution yield and correct orientation of the reconstituted protein. This method can be extended to other membrane proteins and for other applications that require proteoliposomes. Additionally, we describe a FRET based lipid mixing assay of proteoliposomes used as a measurement of membrane fusion.

The efficiency of atlastin reconstitution is presented in Figure 2. Reconstituted proteoliposomes were floated in an iohexol discontinuous gradient. Unincorporated protein was sedimented in the bottom layer (B) or in the middle layer (M). Reconstituted protein would float to the top layer (T). Samples of the gradient were harvested and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie staining. The quantification of the gel by densitometry shows a very high efficiency of reconstitution with negligible lose...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Detergent-assisted Reconstitution of Recombinant Drosophila Atlastin into Liposomes for Lipid-mixing Assays at JoVE.com

Detergent-assisted Reconstitution of Recombinant Drosophila Atlastin into Liposomes for Lipid-mixing Assays

Biological membrane fusion is catalyzed by specialized fusion proteins. Measuring the fusogenic properties of proteins can be achieved by lipid mixing assays. We present a method for purifying recombinant Drosophila atlastin, a protein that mediates homotypic fusion of the ER, reconstituting it to preformed liposomes, and testing for fusion capacity.

Detergent-assisted Reconstitution of Recombinant Drosophila Atlastin into Liposomes for Lipid-mixing Assays

Membrane fusion is a crucial process in the eukaryotic cell. Specialized proteins are necessary to catalyze fusion. Atlastins are endoplasmic reticulum ...

The reconstitution and fusion protocol detailed here is an efficient way to study membrane-bound proteins in a model lipid bilayer and lipid mixing by fusion proteins. Here we describe a detergent-assisted reconstitution of recombinant Drosophila atlastin, an ER fusion protein, into preformed phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Fusion of atlastin proteoliposomes is then measured by a FRET-based lipid-mixing assay.One of the key advantages of detergent-assisted reconstitution is that the protein in detergent is not exposed to drying or solvents. We also show here that reconstitution orientation of atlastin is very efficient. Another advantage of the FRET-based lipid-mixing assay is that the liposomes do not need to be loaded with any dye, and there's no need for any extra dialyses steps.To begin this procedure, prepare the lipid mix stocks in chloroform, as outlined in the text protocol. Add one microcurie per milliliter of DPPC to the lipid mixes, making sure to reserve at least eight microliters of this stock. Transfer the desired amount of the lipid mixes into flint glass tubes.Then dry the lipid mixes under a gentle stream of nitrogen gas for approximately 10 minutes until no more chloroform is visible. Dry the resulting lipid film further in a desiccator by vacuuming for 30 minutes. After this, add enough A100 with 10%glycerol, two-millimolar 2-mercaptoethanol, and one-millimolar EDTA to the lipid film to bring the concentration back to 10 millimolar.Resuspend the lipid film by vortexing lightly for 15 minutes at room temperature. Freeze the hydrated lipids in liquid nitrogen. To thaw the liposomes, let the solution sit at room temperature for 30 seconds, then transfer them back to water for faster thawing.Repeat this freeze-thaw cycle a total of 10 times. After this, use a mini-extruder to pass the lipids through polycarbonate filters, with a pore size of 100 nanometers, 19 times. To determine the total lipid concentration of the liposomes, add four microliters of lipid stock and lysosomes to three milliliters of scintillation cocktail.Measure the average counts per minute for stock and liposomes, and calculate the liposome concentration, as outlined in the text protocol. Store the liposomes at four degrees Celsius for up to one week. First, mix the appropriate amount of buffer, extra detergent, and protein in a 0.5-milliliter tube, as outlined in the text protocol.Rapidly add the liposomes, and immediately vortex for five seconds to homogenize the mixture. Incubate the reaction in a nutator at four degrees Celsius for one hour. During this incubation, weigh out 0.2 grams of polystyrene adsorbent beads and transfer them to a microcentrifuge tube.Add one milliliter of methanol to the tube, and mix for one minute to degas the beads. Then, aspirate the methanol with a 21-gauge or higher needle. To begin washing the beads, add water to them.Let the beads mix with the water for five minutes, then aspirate the water. Repeat this water washing process four times. After this, add water to bring the polystyrene adsorbent bead slurry to a volume of one milliliter, with a final concentration of 0.2 grams per milliliter.Calculate the amount of polystyrene adsorbent beads needed to adsorb all the detergent in each sample, as outlined in the text protocol. Cut a pipette tip to collect the bead slurry. Transfer the calculated amount of bead slurry to a 0.5-milliliter tube, and aspirate the water.Add the samples to the tube containing the beads, and incubate in a nutator at four degrees Celsius for one hour. Transfer the samples to a fresh tube containing new beads, making sure to leave the old beads behind. Incubate again using the same conditions.Repeat this process of transferring and incubating the beads two times. After this, transfer the sample to a new tube containing fresh beads and incubate by nutating overnight at four degrees Celsius. The next day, remove the sample from the beads and centrifuge at 16, 000 times g and four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes to pellet the insoluble protein aggregates.Recover the supernatant, and determine the final lipid concentration by liquid scintillation counting, as outlined in the text protocol. To begin, bring the donor and acceptor proteoliposomes to a concentration of 0.15 millimolar each in A100 containing glycerol, beta-mercaptoethanol, EDTA, and magnesium chloride. Transfer each reaction to a well in a flat 96-well plate suitable for fluorescence reading, making sure to prepare at least four reactions, including a triplicate and a no-GTP negative control.Place the plate into a preheated plate reader at 37 degrees Celsius. Measure the NBD fluorescence every minute for five minutes. Then, add five-millimolar GTP to induce fusion.Measure the NBD fluorescence every minute for one hour using the same excitation and emission as before. After this, add five microliters of 2.5%n-Dodecyl beta-D-maltoside to the wells to dissolve the proteoliposomes, and measure the maximum NBD fluorescence every minute for 15 minutes using the same excitation and emission. In this study, recombinant Drosophila atlastin is purified and reconstituted into preformed liposomes.The efficiency of the atlastin reconstitution is determined by floating reconstituted proteoliposomes in an iohexol discontinuous gradient. Samples of the top, middle, and bottom gradient layers are harvested and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie staining. The quantification of the gel by densitometry shows a very high efficiency of reconstitution with negligible loses, with 96%of the total protein being found as proteoliposomes that floated to the top layer.Less than 1%of protein is unreconstituted and found in the middle layer, and only 3%is unreconstituted or aggregated and sedimented to the bottom layer. The orientation of atlastin after reconstitution is quantified by thrombin cleavage assays. Samples are analyzed with SDS-PAGE and Coomassie staining and quantified by densitometry.Most of the reconstituted protein is cleaved, with only 7%being protected from the protease. The kinetics and the extent of atlastin-mediated proteoliposome fusion are analyzed by lipid-mixing assays. An incubation of five minutes is performed before inducing fusion with GTP at the zero time point.After one hour, n-Dodecyl beta-D-maltoside was added to solubilize the proteoliposomes and get the maximum fluorescent resonance transfer release. The fusion maximum in the run is seen to be 11%of maximum fluorescence. Lipids are dissolved in chloroform.When preparing the lipid mixes, make sure to do this quickly, on a chemical hood, and on ice to avoid any evaporation. It is possible to analyze atlastin proteoliposomes by microscopy to visualize the effects of a membrane anchor on liposome shape and size. This method has been extended to study other membrane-anchored proteins and how the behave in a model lipid bilayer.This protocol uses titrated lipids to quantify lipid mixes. Make sure to take the necessary precautions when working with radioactive materials.

detergent-assisted-reconstitution-recombinant-drosophila-atlastin

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

7.6K visualizações.  Rice University. O protocolo de reconstituição e fusão detalhado aqui é uma maneira eficiente de estudar proteínas ligadas à membrana em um modelo de bicamadas lipídicas e mistura lipídica por proteínas de fusão. Aqui descrevemos uma reconstituição assistida por detergente de atlastin drosophila recombinante, uma proteína de fusão ER, em lipossomos fosfatitas pré-formados. A fusão de proteoliposomes atlastin é então medida por um ensaio de mistura lipídica baseado em FRET.Uma das pri...