Name: examining the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins in situ with site-directed fluorescence labeling
Uploaded: 2011-05-29T14:00:00
Duration: 11 min 55 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling at JoVE.com

<ol>
	<li>Cole, K. S., Moore, 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=Potassium+Ion+Current+in+the+Squid+Giant+Axon:+Dynamic+Characteristic.">Potassium Ion Current in the Squid Giant Axon: Dynamic Characteristic.</a> Biophys. J. 1, 1-14 (1960).</li><li>Taglialatela, M., Toro, L., Stefani, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+voltage+clamp+to+record+small,+fast+currents+from+ion+channels+expressed+in+Xenopus+oocytes.">Novel voltage clamp to record small, fast currents from ion channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes.</a> Biophys. J. 61, 78-82 (1992).</li><li>Dempski, R. E., Friedrich, T., Bamberg, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+beta+subunit+of+the+Na+/K+-ATPase+follows+the+conformational+state+of+the+holoenzyme.">The beta subunit of the Na+/K+-ATPase follows the conformational state of the holoenzyme.</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 125, 505-520 (2005).</li><li>Miller, A. J., Zhou, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Xenopus+oocytes+as+an+expression+system+for+plant+transporters.">Xenopus oocytes as an expression system for plant transporters.</a> BBA - Biomembranes. 1465, 343-358 (2000).</li><li>Cha, A., Bezanilla, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterizing+Voltage-Dependent+Conformational+Changes+in+the+Shaker+K++Channel+with+Fluorescence.">Characterizing Voltage-Dependent Conformational Changes in the Shaker K+ Channel with Fluorescence.</a> Neuron. 19, 1127-1140 (1997).</li><li>Mannuzzu, L. M., Moronne, M. M., Isacoff, E. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+Physical+Measure+of+Conformational+Rearrangement+Underlying+Potassium+Channel+Gating.">Direct Physical Measure of Conformational Rearrangement Underlying Potassium Channel Gating.</a> Science. 271, 213-216 (1996).</li><li>Koch, H. P., Larsson, P. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Small-scale+molecular+motions+accomplish+glutamate+uptake+in+human+glutamate+transporters.">Small-scale molecular motions accomplish glutamate uptake in human glutamate transporters.</a> J. Neurosci. 25, 1730-1736 (2005).</li><li>Dempski, R. E., Hartung, K., Friedrich, T., Bamberg, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorometric+Measurements+of+Intermolecular+Distances+between+the+&#945;-+and+&#946;-Subunits+of+the+Na+/K+-ATPase.">Fluorometric Measurements of Intermolecular Distances between the &#945;- and &#946;-Subunits of the Na+/K+-ATPase.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 281, 36338-36338 (2006).</li><li>Geys, S. A., Bamberg, E., Dempski, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ligand-Dependent+Effects+on+the+Conformational+Equilibrium+of+the+Na+,K+-ATPase+As+Monitored+by+Voltage+Clamp+Fluorometry.">Ligand-Dependent Effects on the Conformational Equilibrium of the Na+,K+-ATPase As Monitored by Voltage Clamp Fluorometry.</a> Biophys. J. 96, 4561-4561 (2009).</li><li>Geibel, S., Kaplan, J. H., Bamberg, E., Friedrich, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Conformational+Dynamics+of+the+Na+/K+-ATPase+Probed+by+Voltage+Clamp+Fluorometry.">Conformational Dynamics of the Na+/K+-ATPase Probed by Voltage Clamp Fluorometry.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100, 964-969 (2003).</li><li>Lorenz, L., Pusch, M., Jentsch, 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=Heteromultimeric+CLC+chloride+channels+with+novel+properties.">Heteromultimeric CLC chloride channels with novel properties.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 13362-13366 (1996).</li><li>Mruk, K., Kobertz, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Discovery+of+a+Novel+Activator+of+KCNQ1-KCNE1+K++Channel+Complexes.">Discovery of a Novel Activator of KCNQ1-KCNE1 K+ Channel Complexes.</a> Biophys. J. 177a, (2009).</li><li>Kyte, J., Doolittle, R. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+method+for+diplaying+the+hydropathic+character+of+a+protein.">A method for diplaying the hydropathic character of a protein.</a> J. Mol. Biol. 157, 105-132 (1982).</li><li>Rakowski, R. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Charge+movement+by+the+Na/K+pump+in+Xenopus+oocytes.">Charge movement by the Na/K pump in Xenopus oocytes.</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 101, 117-144 (1993).</li><li>Tsunoda, S. P., Hegemann, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glu+87+of+Channelrhodopsin-1+Causes+pH-dependent+Color+Tuning+and+Fast+Photocurrent+Inactivation.">Glu 87 of Channelrhodopsin-1 Causes pH-dependent Color Tuning and Fast Photocurrent Inactivation.</a> Photochem. Photobiol. 85, 564-569 (2009).</li><li>Cha, A., Bezanilla, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+implications+of+fluorescence+quenching+in+the+Shaker+K++channel.">Structural implications of fluorescence quenching in the Shaker K+ channel.</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 112, 391-391 (1998).</li><li>F&#246;rster, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Ann Physik. 2, 55-75 (1948).</li><li>Dong, X., Stothard, P., Forsythe, I. J., Wishart, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PlasMapper:+a+web+server+for+drawing+and+auto-annotating+plasmid+maps.">PlasMapper: a web server for drawing and auto-annotating plasmid maps.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 32, W660-W664 (2004).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

The experimental approach that we describe combines site-specific fluorophore labeling and two electrode voltage clamp to investigate the relationship between structure and function of membrane proteins. This technique can be used to obtain time-resolved information on the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins during ion transport. Furthermore, this approach can be tailored to work with various proteins such as ion pumps, ion channels and transporters. 
In addition to investigating the conformational dynamics at a specific residue, it is also possible to use fluorescence resonance energy transfer to determine distance constraints within a holoenzyme. The determination of distances between residues as well as measuring the relative movement between subunits can help solve key questions involving gating mechanisms.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<th>Reagent/Equipment</th>
			<th>Company</th>
			<th>Reagent/Equipment</th>
			<th>Company</th>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100W Tungsten Light Source</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss Microimaging</td>
			<td>fluorescein-5-maleimide</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1B150F-4</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>High-Pure PCR Extraction Kit</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3.0-4.0 Ethicon Vicryl</td>
			<td>Johnson &amp; Johnson</td>
			<td>mMessage mMachine Kit</td>
			<td>Ambion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>475AF40 excitation filter</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>MS-222</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>505DRLP dichroic mirror</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>Nucleospin Plasmid Kit</td>
			<td>Macherey-Nagel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Macherey-Nagel</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>Nanodrop 2000c Sprectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>535DF50 excitation filter</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>PC-10 Micropipette Puller</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>560DRLP dichroic mirror</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>pCLAMP 10 Software</td>
			<td>Axon Instruments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>565ALP emission filter</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>PfuTurbo DNA Polymerase</td>
			<td>Strategene</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>565EFLP emission filter</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>PIN-022A Photodiode</td>
			<td>United Detector Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>570DRLP dichroic mirror</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>Polarized Filters</td>
			<td>Linos Phtonics Inc.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Linos Phtonics Inc.</td>
			<td>Omega Optical</td>
			<td>QuickChange Site-Directed Mutagenisis Kit</td>
			<td>Stratagene</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Axio Examiner Fluorescence Microscope</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GMBH</td>
			<td>RC-10 Fluorescence Chamber</td>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>tetramethylrhodamine-6-maleimide</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digidata 1440A data acquisition system</td>
			<td>Axon Instruments</td>
			<td>TOP10 Electrocompetent Cells</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dpn I</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>Turbo Tec-05X amplifier</td>
			<td>npi</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

examining the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins in situ with site-directed fluorescence labeling

Two electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology (TEVC) is a powerful tool to investigate the mechanism of ion transport1 for a wide variety of membrane proteins including ion channels2, ion pumps3, and transporters4. Recent developments have combined site-specific fluorophore labeling alongside TEVC to 
concurrently examine the conformational dynamics at specific residues and function of these proteins on the surface of single cells.
We will describe a method to study the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins by simultaneously monitoring fluorescence and current changes using voltage-clamp fluorometry. This approach can be used to examine the molecular motion of membrane proteins site-specifically following cysteine replacement and site-directed fluorophore labeling5,6. Furthermore, this method provides an approach to determine distance constraints between specific residues7,8. 
This is achieved by selectively attaching donor and acceptor fluorophores to two mutated cysteine residues of interest.
In brief, these experiments are performed following functional expression of the desired protein on the surface of Xenopus leavis oocytes. The large surface area of these oocytes enables facile functional measurements and a robust fluorescence signal5. It is also possible to readily change the extracellular conditions such as pH, ligand or cations/anions, which can provide further information on the mechanism of membrane proteins4. Finally, recent developments 
have also enabled the manipulation of select internal ions following co-expression with a second protein9.
Our protocol is described in multiple parts. First, cysteine scanning mutagenesis proceeded by fluorophore labeling is completed at residues located at the interface of the transmembrane and extracellular domains. Subsequent experiments are designed to identify residues which demonstrate large changes in fluorescence intensity (&lt;5%)3 upon a conformational change of the protein. Second, these changes in fluorescence intensity are compared to the kinetic parameters of 
the membrane protein in order to correlate the conformational dynamics to the function of the protein10. This enables a rigorous biophysical analysis of the molecular motion of the target protein. Lastly, two residues of the holoenzyme can be labeled with a donor and acceptor fluorophore in order to determine distance constraints using donor photodestruction methods. It is also possible to monitor the relative movement of protein subunits following labeling with a donor and acceptor fluorophore.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling at JoVE.com

Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling

We will describe a method which measures the kinetics of ion transport of membrane proteins alongside site-specific analysis of conformational changes using fluorescence on single cells. This technique is adaptable to ion channels, transporters and ion pumps and can be utilized to determine distance constraints between protein subunits.

Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling

Two electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology (TEVC) is a powerful tool to investigate the mechanism of ion transport1 for a wide variety of membrane ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Homemade Site Directed Mutagenesis of Whole Plasmids

Site directed mutagenesis of whole plasmids is a simple way to create slightly different variations of an original plasmid. With this method the cloned ...

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

A detailed protocol for crystallizing membrane proteins by using lipidic mesophases is described. This method has variously been referred to as the ...

Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases

Membrane proteins perform critical functions in living cells related to signal transduction, transport and energy transformations, and, as such, are ...

Use of a Robot for High-throughput Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases

Bruk av en robot for High-throughput Krystallisering av membran proteiner i Lipidic Mesophases

Structure-function studies of membrane proteins greatly benefit from having available high-resolution 3-D structures of the type provided through ...

Harvesting and Cryo-cooling Crystals of Membrane Proteins Grown in Lipidic Mesophases for Structure Determination by Macromolecular Crystallography

Høsting og Cryo-kjøling Krystaller av membran proteiner Grown i Lipidic Mesophases for strukturbestemmelse av Macromolecular Crystallography

An important route to understanding how proteins function at a mechanistic level is to have the structure of the target protein available, ideally at ...

Examining BCL-2 Family Function with Large Unilamellar Vesicles

Undersøke BCL-2 familie funksjon med store unilamellære Blemmer

The BCL-2 (B cell CLL/Lymphoma) family is comprised of approximately twenty proteins that collaborate to either maintain cell survival or initiate ...

Cryosectioning Yeast Communities for Examining Fluorescence Patterns

Cryosectioning Gjær Communities for å undersøke Fluorescens Patterns

Microbes typically live  in communities. The spatial organization  of cells within a community is believed to impact the survival and function of the  ...

Visualization and Analysis of mRNA Molecules Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Visualization and Analysis of mRNA Molecules Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Visualisering og analyse av mRNA molekyler med fluorescens<em&gt; In Situ</em&gt; Hybridisering i<em&gt; Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em

The Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) method allows one to detect nucleic acids in the native cellular environment. Here we provide a protocol for ...

Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues

Sekvens-spesifikk merking av nukleinsyrer og proteiner med metyltransferaser og kofaktor analoger

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet or SAM)-dependent methyltransferases (MTase) catalyze the transfer of the activated methyl group from AdoMet to specific ...

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

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

Grønn Fluorescent Protein-baserte Expression Screening av membran proteiner i<em&gt; Escherichia coli</em

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