This study was supported by a Merit Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and an NIH grant R01CA138528 to RW.

1. Preparation of Expression Constructs
<ol>
	<li>Before starting the protocol, clone PRMTs into mammalian expression vectors with an N-terminal epitope tag (Myc or HA), and the substrate in-frame with glutathione-S-transferase (GST) for high-level protein expression and purification from bacterial cell lysates, using standard molecular biological techniques.</li>
</ol>
2. Purification of PRMTs
<ol>
	<li>Use 100 mm culture dishes to maintain human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas2B). Passage the cells every 3 days and do not let them grow to confluence.</li>
	<li>On the day before transfection, seed 7.5 x 105 cells in 10 ml culture medium in a 100 mm culture dish. Swirl to evenly disperse the cells, and incubate at 37 &#176;C in a 5% humidified CO2 incubator.</li>
	<li>The next day, aspirate the media and add 5 ml of culture media without serum and antibiotics. Swirl and aspirate the medium. Repeat this step one more time, and finally add 5 ml of serum/antibiotic free medium and proceed to transfection.</li>
	<li>Dilute 6 &#956;g of plasmid DNA into 750 &#956;l of serum free medium in a sterile 1.5 ml plastic centrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>In another 1.5 ml plastic centrifuge tube, dilute 30 &#956;l of transfection reagent into 750 &#956;l of serum free medium.</li>
	<li>Transfer the diluted transfection reagent solution (step 2.5) to the tube containing diluted DNA (step 2.4). Mix gently by pipetting up and down several times.</li>
	<li>Incubate the transfection mixture at room temperature for 15 min.</li>
	<li>After 15 min, pipette the transfection mixture gently onto the cells, swirl to mix evenly, and incubate at 37 &#176;C in a 5% humidified CO2 incubator.</li>
	<li>After 3 hr, aspirate the medium containing transfection mixtures from the cells. Add fresh cell culture medium supplemented with serum and antibiotics.</li>
	<li>Incubate at 37 &#176;C in a 5% humidified CO2 incubator for 48 hr.</li>
	<li>After 48 hr, lyse the cells in 1 ml of lysis buffer (1x phosphate buffered saline, 1% Nonidet P-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 1 &#181;g/ml phenlymethyl sulphonyl fluoride). Collect the lysates into a plastic centrifuge tube with a cell lifter and incubate the lysates on ice for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the lysates at 15,000 x g for 10 min on a bench-top centrifuge to clear the lysates from cell debris. [* It is highly recommended to confirm the expression of HA-PRMT1 via immunoblotting of an aliquot of the lysates with anti-HA antibodies, before proceeding to purification of the enzymes for methylation assay.]</li>
	<li>For purification of PRMTs, incubate 3 mg of cell lysates with 30 &#956;l of 50:50 suspension of anti-HA affinity matrix in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and rotate overnight at 4 &#176;C in a tube rotator.</li>
	<li>Next day, spin the tubes at 14,000 x g on a bench-top centrifuge for 2 min to collect the beads. Discard the supernatant and wash the beads 3x&#160;with 1 ml of RIPA buffer [20 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM EDTA and 1% Triton-X-100] in each wash followed by centrifugation at 14,000 x g for 2 min. After the third wash, wash the beads once with 100 &#956;l of methylation buffer (50 mM Tris pH 8.5, 20 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 1 mM &#946;-mercaptoethanol, 100 mM sucrose). After the centrifugation, remove the supernatant. The beads containing the immobilized PRMTs are ready to be used in the methylation assay. [* It is highly recommended to use the immobilized PRMTs immediately in the methylation assay.]</li>
</ol>
3. Purification of Substrate
<ol>
	<li>Inoculate a single colony of GST-G3BP1 transformed BL21 into 5 ml of Luria-Bertani (LB) medium containing 100 &#956;g/ml ampicillin. Grow the cultures overnight at 37 &#176;C with shaking at 250 rpm.</li>
	<li>Next day, transfer the overnight culture to 50 ml of fresh LB medium and continue to grow to an OD600 of 0.5-0.7 (It takes about 2 hr).</li>
	<li>When the OD600 reaches 0.5-0.7, add isopropyl-&#946;-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) to a final concentration of 1 mM and continue to culture for additional 4 hr at 37 &#176;C with shaking at 250 rpm.</li>
	<li>Harvest the cells by centrifugation at 1,500 x g for 10 min, and process the pellet for GST purification or store at -80 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Re-suspend the bacterial pellet in 5 ml of lysis buffer (1x PBS with protease inhibitors, 100 &#956;g/ml of lysozyme, and 0.1% Triton-X-100) and incubate the lysates at 37 &#176;C for 30 min. At this time the lysates will appear turbid and viscous due to the release of bacterial genomic DNA.</li>
	<li>Shear the genomic DNA by sonication (10 pulses of 1 sec each with an amplitude of 30%).</li>
	<li>Clear the lysates by centrifugation at 15,000 x g for 10 min and transfer the clear supernatant to a 15 ml tube. If the supernatant is not clear repeat the centrifugation process one more time.</li>
	<li>Meanwhile, wash the GST-sepharose beads twice with ice cold PBS and make a 50:50 suspension of GST-sepharose in PBS. Add 200 &#956;l of the GST-sepharose suspension to the cleared bacterial cell lysate and rotate at 4 &#176;C for 1 hr.</li>
	<li>After 1 hr, centrifuge the tubes at 500 x g for 3 min to collect the beads. Wash the beads 3x&#160;with ice cold PBS.</li>
	<li>After the final wash, resuspend the beads in 100 &#956;l of elution buffer (50 mM Tris pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 30 mM glutathione) and rotate at 4 &#176;C for 10 min.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the tubes at 15,000 x g for 2 min and transfer the supernatant containing the purified protein into another plastic centrifuge tube. Carry out SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis on 5 &#956;l of the purified protein along with known amounts of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to estimate the concentration of the purified protein.</li>
</ol>
4. Methylation Assay
NOTE: Perform following steps in a separate area designated for radioisotope work and in compliance with the institution&#8217;s protocols on performing experiments with radioactive isotopes.
<ol>
	<li>Add 2 &#956;g of purified GST-substrate and a master mix containing 1x methylation buffer (50 mM Tris pH 8.5, 20 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 1 mM &#946;-mercaptoethanol, 100 mM sucrose), 1 &#956;Ci of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine, and water to a final volume of 10 &#956;l to the immobilized PRMTs (step 2.13) and incubate the reaction at 30 &#176;C for 1 hr.</li>
	<li>After 1 hr, stop the reaction by adding 10 &#956;l of 2x SDS sample buffer. After denaturation of the samples at 95 &#176;C for 10 min, separate the samples on an SDS-PAGE gel.</li>
	<li>Later, transfer the separated proteins from the SDS gel onto nitrocellulose membrane by using a semi-dry electrophoretic transfer.</li>
	<li>After the transfer, cover the membrane with autofluor (an autoradiographic image intensifier), and gently rock for 2 hr at room temperature. After 2 hr, pour off the autofluor and retain for later use. [*Label the tube as radioactive material]</li>
	<li>Quickly air dry the membrane on a filter paper, seal it in a plastic bag and expose the membrane to an X-ray film at -20 &#176;C. Sufficient exposure time ranges between 5-30 days.</li>
</ol>
5. Confirmation of PRMT Expression and Equal Loading of Substrate
<ol>
	<li>After achieving sufficient exposures, transfer the membrane to a plastic box containing blocking buffer [Tris-buffered saline with Tween-20 (TBST + 3% non-fat milk)] and gently rock for 1 hr.</li>
	<li>Discard the blocking buffer as radioactive waste. Incubate the membrane with anti-HA antibody (1:1,000 dilution) in TBST overnight at 4 &#176;C, with gentle rocking.</li>
	<li>Wash the membrane with TBST 3x&#160;and incubate the membrane with HRP-labeled anti-mouse secondary antibody (1:5,000 dilution) in TBST at room temperature for 1 hr with gentle rocking.</li>
	<li>After 1 hr, wash the membrane with TBST 3x, and perform chemiluminiscence detection of proteins with an HRP substrate.</li>
	<li>After detection of the HA-tagged PRMTs, incubate the membrane with Ponseau-S staining solution for 5 min at room temperature. Quickly wash the membrane 3x with water to detect the GST-tagged substrates. Scan the image.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Paik, W. K., Kim, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+methylase+I.+Purification+and+properties+of+the+enzyme.">Protein methylase I. Purification and properties of the enzyme.</a> J Biol Chem. 243, 2108-2114 (1968).</li><li>Lin, W. J., Gary, J. D., Yang, M. C., Clarke, S., Herschman, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mammalian+immediate-early+TIS21+protein+and+the+leukemia-associated+BTG1+protein+interact+with+a+protein-arginine+N-methyltransferase.">The mammalian immediate-early TIS21 protein and the leukemia-associated BTG1 protein interact with a protein-arginine N-methyltransferase.</a> J Biol Chem. 271, 15034-15044 (1996).</li><li>Boffa, L. C., Karn, J., Vidali, G., Allfrey, V. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distribution+of+NG,+NG,-dimethylarginine+in+nuclear+protein+fractions.">Distribution of NG, NG,-dimethylarginine in nuclear protein fractions.</a> Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 74, 969-976 (1977).</li><li>Bedford, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arginine+methylation+at+a+glance.">Arginine methylation at a glance.</a> J Cell Sci. 120, 4243-4246 (2007).</li><li>Lee, Y. H., Stallcup, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Minireview:+protein+arginine+methylation+of+nonhistone+proteins+in+transcriptional+regulation.">Minireview: protein arginine methylation of nonhistone proteins in transcriptional regulation.</a> Mol Endocrinol. 23, 425-433 (2009).</li><li>Bedford, M. T., Clarke, S. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+arginine+methylation+in+mammals:+who,+what,+and+why.">Protein arginine methylation in mammals: who, what, and why.</a> Mol Cell. 33, 1-13 (2009).</li><li>Bikkavilli, R. K., 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=Dishevelled3+is+a+novel+arginine+methyl+transferase+substrate.">Dishevelled3 is a novel arginine methyl transferase substrate.</a> Scientific reports. 2, 805 (2012).</li><li>Bikkavilli, R. K., Malbon, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arginine+methylation+of+G3BP1+in+response+to+Wnt3a+regulates+{beta}-catenin+mRNA.">Arginine methylation of G3BP1 in response to Wnt3a regulates {beta}-catenin mRNA.</a> J Cell Sci. 124, 2310-2320 (2011).</li><li>Bikkavilli, R. K., Malbon, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wnt3a-stimulated+LRP6+phosphorylation+is+dependent+upon+arginine+methylation+of+G3BP2.">Wnt3a-stimulated LRP6 phosphorylation is dependent upon arginine methylation of G3BP2.</a> J Cell Sci. , (2012).</li><li>Tini, M., Naeem, H., Torchia, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biochemical+analysis+of+arginine+methylation+in+transcription.">Biochemical analysis of arginine methylation in transcription.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 523, 235-247 (2009).</li><li>Lee, J., Cheng, D., Bedford, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Techniques+in+protein+methylation.">Techniques in protein methylation.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 284, 195-208 (2004).</li><li>Cheng, D., Vemulapalli, V., Bedford, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methods+applied+to+the+study+of+protein+arginine+methylation.">Methods applied to the study of protein arginine methylation.</a> Methods Enzymol. 512, 71-92 (2012).</li><li>Zurita-Lopez, C. I., Sandberg, T., Kelly, R., Clarke, S. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+protein+arginine+methyltransferase+7+(PRMT7)+is+a+type+III+enzyme+forming+omega-NG-monomethylated+arginine+residues.">Human protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) is a type III enzyme forming omega-NG-monomethylated arginine residues.</a> J Biol Chem. 287, 7859-7870 (2012).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The protocol described herein is routinely used to establish the methylation status of the identified PRMT substrates. This robust, and consistent assay will also provide definitive evidence on the specificity of PRMTs for their substrates. The key components for the success of this assay are: 1. Expression of PRMTs in mammalian cells, 2. Activity of purified PRMTs, 3. Expression and purification of substrate, and 4. Complete western transfer of the proteins to the nitrocellulose membrane.
Rec...

Protein methylation was first described in 19681. It was not until the first cloning of PRMT1 in 1996, that researchers began to appreciate the importance of this post-translational modification2. Interestingly, about 2% of arginine residues in the proteins of nuclear extracts are methylated3, indicating the abundance of this modification. Arginine is a positively charged amino acid with a basic side chain and the nitrogen/s within the side chains of arginine can be post-translationally modified via the addition of a methyl group, a process known as arginine methylation4-6. Arginine methylation is catalyzed by a class of enzymes viz., protein arginine methyl transferases (PRMTs). Arginines can either be monomethylated or dimethylated and the latter can be either symmetric or asymmetric depending on the type of PRMTs catalyzing the process4-6.
Proteins that display arginine-glycine rich motifs are potential targets for PRMT-mediated catalysis. PRMT-mediated methylation of substrates has been shown to modulate protein-protein interaction, protein-nucleic acid interaction, protein function, gene expression, and/or cellular signaling, all of which are critical for normal cellular homeostasis7-9. In order to understand the biological role of protein arginine methylation, precise, efficient, and reproducible assays are required to establish the methylation status of the identified PRMT substrates.
In vitro methylation assay, which evaluates the abilities of purified PRMTs to catalyze methylation of their substrates, is a well-accepted assay for studying arginine methylation10-12. The overall success of this assay largely depends upon the activity of the purified PRMTs. PRMTs can be expressed and purified from bacteria, or mammalian cells10,11. This in vitro methylation assay, as detailed in the protocol section, is based upon a method originally described by Tini and colleagues10. In this protocol, we show in detail the steps involved in the expression and purification of PRMT1 in mammalian cells. The ability of the purified PRMT1 to catalyze methylation on Ras-GTPase activating protein binding protein 1 (G3BP1), a known PRMT substrate8, was later evaluated in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine as the methyl donor. Using this assay, we can reliably define the abilities of the PRMTs to methylate novel or known substrates, which is a primary step in the study of protein arginine methylation.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="673">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:259px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine</td>
			<td>Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ecoscint ultra&#160;</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bottle top dispenser</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-900</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">AutoFluor</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>LS-315</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">6 ml Scintillation Vials</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td>SKU:SVC-06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">GST-sepharose</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">GE Life Sciences</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">L-Glutathione Reduced</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">G4251</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Lipofectamine</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td>Transfection reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Beas2B</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Optimem</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">NP-40</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">US-Biologicals</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">SDS</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Sodium deoxycholate</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">PMSF</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">anti-HA affinity matrix</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Roche</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Tris</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Nacl</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Bio-rad gel doc</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Bio Rad</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">anti-HA antibody</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">roche</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:259px;">Ponseau S</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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.

The abilities of HA-PRMT1 to methylate GST-G3BP1 were determined by an in vitro methylation assay. HA-tagged PRMT1 purified from Beas2B cell lysates was employed in a methylation reaction containing GST-G3BP1, and 1 &#956;Ci of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine, as a methyl donor. PRMT1 could efficiently catalyze the methylation of GST-G3BP1 (Figure 1, upper panel). Methylation reactions using pull-downs performed on lysates of empty vector transfected Beas2B cells served as a negat...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In vitro Methylation Assay to Study Protein Arginine Methylation at JoVE.com

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.

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 ...

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15.1K Views.  University of Illinois at Chicago. 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.

Video: In vitro Methylation Assay to Study Protein Arginine Methylation

Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards

Testing visual sensitivity in any species provides basic information regarding behaviour, evolution, and ecology. However, testing specific features of the visual system provide more empirical evidence for functional applications. Investigation into the sensory system provides information about the sensory capacity, learning and memory ability, and establishes known baseline behaviour in which to gauge deviations (Burghardt, 1977). However, unlike mammalian or avian systems, testing for learning and memory in a reptile species is difficult. Furthermore, using an operant paradigm as a psychophysical measure of sensory ability is likewise as difficult. Historically, reptilian species have responded poorly to conditioning trials because of issues related to motivation, physiology, metabolism, and basic biological characteristics. Here, I demonstrate an operant paradigm used a novel model lizard species, the Jacky dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus) and describe how to test peripheral sensitivity to salient speed and motion characteristics. This method uses an innovative approach to assessing learning and sensory capacity in lizards. I employ the use of random-dot kinematograms (RDKs) to measure sensitivity to speed, and manipulate the level of signal strength by changing the proportion of dots moving in a coherent direction. RDKs do not represent a biologically meaningful stimulus, engages the visual system, and is a classic psychophysical tool used to measure sensitivity in humans and other animals. Here, RDKs are displayed to lizards using three video playback systems. Lizards are to select the direction (left or right) in which they perceive dots to be moving. Selection of the appropriate direction is reinforced by biologically important prey stimuli, simulated by computer-animated invertebrates.

Testing visual sensitivity in lizards using an operant conditioning paradigm that employs video playback of random-dot kinematograms and computer-generated invertebrates.

Testing visual sensitivity in any species provides basic information regarding behaviour, evolution, and ecology. However, testing specific features of ...

Determination of DNA Methylation of Imprinted Genes in Arabidopsis Endosperm

Arabidopsis thaliana is an excellent model organism for studying epigenetic mechanisms. One of the reasons is the loss-of-function null mutant of DNA methyltransferases is viable, thus providing a system to study how loss of DNA methylation in a genome affects growth and development. Imprinting refers to differential expression of maternal and paternal alleles and plays an important role in reproduction development in both mammal and plants. DNA methylation is critical for determining whether the maternal or paternal alleles of an imprinted gene is expressed or silenced. In flowering plants, there is a double fertilization event in reproduction: one sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell to form embryo and a second sperm fuses with the central cell to give rise to endosperm. Endosperm is the tissue where imprinting occurs in plants. MEDEA, a SET domain Polycomb group gene, and FWA, a transcription factor regulating flowering, are the first two genes shown to be imprinted in endosperm and their expression is controlled by DNA methylation and demethylation in plants. In order to determine imprinting status of a gene and methylation pattern in endosperm, we need to be able to isolate endosperm first. Since seed is tiny in Arabidopsis, it remains challenging to isolate Arabidopsis endosperm and examine its methylation. In this video protocol, we report how to conduct a genetic cross, to isolate endosperm tissue from seeds, and to determine the methylation status by bisulfite sequencing.

Determination of DNA Methylation of Imprinted Genes in Arabidopsis Endosperm

Imprinting is a phenomenon in plant and mammal reproduction. DNA methylation plays an important role in mechanisms of imprinting. Isolating endosperm and determining methylation status of imprinted genes in Arabidopsis can be difficult. In this protocol, we describe how to isolate endosperm and determine methylation by bisulfite sequencing.

Arabidopsis thaliana is an excellent model organism for studying epigenetic mechanisms. One of the reasons is the loss-of-function null mutant of DNA ...

Protein Membrane Overlay Assay: A Protocol to Test Interaction Between Soluble and Insoluble Proteins in vitro

Validating interactions between different proteins is vital for investigation of their biological functions on the molecular level. There are several methods, both in vitro and in vivo, to evaluate protein binding, and at least two methods that complement the shortcomings of each other should be conducted to obtain reliable insights. 
For an in vivo assay, the bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay represents the most popular and least invasive approach that enables to detect protein-protein interaction within living cells, as well as identify the intracellular localization of the interacting proteins 1,2. In this assay, non-fluorescent N- and C-terminal halves of GFP or its variants are fused to tested proteins, and when the two fusion proteins are brought together due to the tested proteins&#x2019; interactions, the fluorescent signal is reconstituted3-6. Because its signal is readily detectable by epifluorescence or confocal microscopy, BiFC has emerged as a powerful tool of choice among cell biologists for studying about protein-protein interactions in living cells 3. This assay, however, can sometimes produce false positive results. For example, the fluorescent signal can be reconstituted by two GFP fragments arranged as far as 7 nm from each other due to close packing in a small subcellular compartment, rather that due to specific interactions7.
Due to these limitations, the results obtained from live cell imaging technologies should be confirmed by an independent approach based on a different principle for detecting protein interactions. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) or glutathione transferase (GST) pull-down assays represent such alternative methods that are commonly used to analyze protein-protein interactions in vitro. However, iIn these assays, however, the tested proteins must be readily soluble in the buffer that supportsused for the binding reaction. Therefore, specific interactions involving an insoluble protein cannot be assessed by these techniques.
 Here, we illustrate the protocol for the protein membrane overlay binding assay, which circumvents this difficulty. In this technique, interaction between soluble and insoluble proteins can be reliably tested because one of the proteins is immobilized on a membrane matrix. This method, in combination with in vivo experiments, such as BiFC, provides a reliable approach to investigate and characterize interactions faithfully between soluble and insoluble proteins. In this article, binding between Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) movement protein (MP), which exerts multiple functions during viral cell-to-cell transport8-14, and a recently identified plant cellular interactor, tobacco ankyrin repeat-containing protein (ANK) 15, is demonstrated using this technique.

Protein Membrane Overlay Assay: A Protocol to Test Interaction Between Soluble and Insoluble Proteins in vitro

Testing protein-protein interaction is indispensable for dissection of protein functionality. Here, we introduce an in vitro protein-protein binding assay to probe a membrane-immobilized protein with a soluble protein. This assay provides a reliable method to test interaction between an insoluble protein and a protein in solution.

Validating interactions between different proteins is vital for investigation of their biological functions on the molecular level.  There are several ...

DNA Methylation: Bisulphite Modification and Analysis

Epigenetics describes the heritable changes in gene function that occur independently to the DNA sequence. The molecular basis of epigenetic gene regulation is complex, but essentially involves modifications to the DNA itself or the proteins with which DNA associates. The predominant epigenetic modification of DNA in mammalian genomes is methylation of cytosine nucleotides (5-MeC). DNA methylation provides instruction to gene expression machinery as to where and when the gene should be expressed. The primary target sequence for DNA methylation in mammals is 5'-CpG-3' dinucleotides (Figure 1). CpG dinucleotides are not uniformly distributed throughout the genome, but are concentrated in regions of repetitive genomic sequences and CpG "islands" commonly associated with gene promoters (Figure 1). DNA methylation patterns are established early in development, modulated during tissue specific differentiation and disrupted in many disease states including cancer. To understand the biological role of DNA methylation and its role in human disease, precise, efficient and reproducible methods are required to detect and quantify individual 5-MeCs.
This protocol for bisulphite conversion is the "gold standard" for DNA methylation analysis and facilitates identification and quantification of DNA methylation at single nucleotide resolution. The chemistry of cytosine deamination by sodium bisulphite involves three steps (Figure 2). (1) Sulphonation: The addition of bisulphite to the 5-6 double bond of cytosine (2) Hydrolic Deamination: hydrolytic deamination of the resulting cytosine-bisulphite derivative to give a uracil-bisulphite derivative (3) Alkali Desulphonation: Removal of the sulphonate group by an alkali treatment, to give uracil. Bisulphite preferentially deaminates cytosine to uracil in single stranded DNA, whereas 5-MeC, is refractory to bisulphite-mediated deamination. Upon PCR amplification, uracil is amplified as thymine while 5-MeC residues remain as cytosines, allowing methylated CpGs to be distinguished from unmethylated CpGs by presence of a cytosine "C" versus thymine "T" residue during sequencing.
DNA modification by bisulphite conversion is a well-established protocol that can be exploited for many methods of DNA methylation analysis. Since the detection of 5-MeC by bisulphite conversion was first demonstrated by Frommer et al.1 and Clark et al.2, methods based around bisulphite conversion of genomic DNA account for the majority of new data on DNA methylation. Different methods of post PCR analysis may be utilized, depending on the degree of specificity and resolution of methylation required. Cloning and sequencing is still the most readily available method that can give single nucleotide resolution for methylation across the DNA molecule.

The gold standard for DNA methylation analysis is genomic sequencing of bisulphite converted DNA. This method takes advantage of the increased sensitivity of cytosine compared with 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC) to bisulphite deamination under acidic conditions. Unmethylated cytosines can be distinguished from methylated cytosines after PCR amplification of the target genomic DNA.

Epigenetics describes the heritable changes in gene function that occur independently to the DNA sequence. The molecular basis of epigenetic gene ...

A Liquid Phase Affinity Capture Assay Using Magnetic Beads to Study Protein-Protein Interaction: The Poliovirus-Nanobody Example

In this article, a simple, quantitative, liquid phase affinity capture assay is presented. Provided that one protein can be tagged and another protein labeled, this method can be implemented for the investigation of protein-protein interactions. It is based on one hand on the recognition of the tagged protein by cobalt coated magnetic beads and on the other hand on the interaction between the tagged protein and a second specific protein that is labeled. First, the labeled and tagged proteins are mixed and incubated at room temperature. The magnetic beads, that recognize the tag, are added and the bound fraction of labeled protein is separated from the unbound fraction using magnets. The amount of labeled protein that is captured can be determined in an indirect way by measuring the signal of the labeled protein remained in the unbound fraction. The described liquid phase affinity assay is extremely useful when conformational conversion sensitive proteins are assayed. The development and application of the assay is demonstrated for the interaction between poliovirus and poliovirus recognizing nanobodies1. Since poliovirus is sensitive to conformational conversion2 when attached to a solid surface (unpublished results), the use of ELISA is limited and a liquid phase based system should therefore be preferred. An example of a liquid phase based system often used in polioresearch3,4 is the micro protein A-immunoprecipitation test5. Even though this test has proven its applicability, it requires an Fc-structure, which is absent in the nanobodies6,7. However, as another opportunity, these interesting and stable single-domain antibodies8 can be easily engineered with different tags. The widely used (His)6-tag shows affinity for bivalent ions such as nickel or cobalt, which can on their turn be easily coated on magnetic beads. We therefore developed this simple quantitative affinity capture assay based on cobalt coated magnetic beads. Poliovirus was labeled with 35S to enable unhindered interaction with the nanobodies and to make a quantitative detection feasible. The method is easy to perform and can be established with a low cost, which is further supported by the possibility of effectively regenerating the magnetic beads.

In this article, a simple, quantitative, liquid phase affinity capture assay is presented. It is a reliable technique based on the interaction between magnetic beads and tagged proteins (e.g. nanobodies) on one hand and the affinity between the tagged protein and a second, labeled protein (e.g. poliovirus) on the other.

In this article, a simple, quantitative, liquid phase affinity capture assay is presented. Provided that one protein can be tagged and another protein ...

Application of an In vitro DNA Protection Assay to Visualize Stress Mediation Properties of the Dps Protein

Oxidative stress is an unavoidable byproduct of aerobic life. Molecular oxygen is essential for terrestrial metabolism, but it also takes part in many damaging reactions within living organisms. The combination of aerobic metabolism and iron, which is another vital compound for life, is enough to produce radicals through Fenton chemistry and degrade cellular components. DNA degradation is arguably the most damaging process involving intracellular radicals, as DNA repair is far from trivial. The assay presented in this article offers a quantitative technique to measure and visualize the effect of molecules and enzymes on radical-mediated DNA damage.
The DNA protection assay is a simple, quick, and robust tool for the in vitro characterization of the protective properties of proteins or chemicals. It involves exposing DNA to a damaging oxidative reaction and adding varying concentrations of the compound of interest. The reduction or increase of DNA damage as a function of compound concentration is then visualized using gel electrophoresis. In this article we demonstrate the technique of the DNA protection assay by measuring the protective properties of the DNA-binding protein from starved cells (Dps). Dps is a mini-ferritin that is utilized by more than 300 bacterial species to powerfully combat environmental stressors. Here we present the Dps purification protocol and the optimized assay conditions for evaluating DNA protection by Dps.

Application of an In vitro DNA Protection Assay to Visualize Stress Mediation Properties of the Dps Protein

The DNA-binding protein from starved cells (Dps) plays a crucial role in combating bacterial stress. This article discusses the purification of E. coli Dps and the protocol for an in vitro assay demonstrating Dps-mediated protection of DNA from degradation by reactive oxygen species.

Oxidative stress is an unavoidable byproduct of  aerobic life.  Molecular oxygen is  essential for terrestrial metabolism, but it also takes part in many ...

Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism

The folding and assembly of proteins is essential for protein function, the long-term health of the cell, and longevity of the organism. Historically, the function and regulation of protein folding was studied in vitro, in isolated tissue culture cells and in unicellular organisms. Recent studies have uncovered links between protein homeostasis (proteostasis), metabolism, development, aging, and temperature-sensing. These findings have led to the development of new tools for monitoring protein folding in the model metazoan organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In our laboratory, we combine behavioral assays, imaging and biochemical approaches using temperature-sensitive or naturally occurring metastable proteins as sensors of the folding environment to monitor protein misfolding. Behavioral assays that are associated with the misfolding of a specific protein provide a simple and powerful readout for protein folding, allowing for the fast screening of genes and conditions that modulate folding. Likewise, such misfolding can be associated with protein mislocalization in the cell. Monitoring protein localization can, therefore, highlight changes in cellular folding capacity occurring in different tissues, at various stages of development and in the face of changing conditions. Finally, using biochemical tools ex vivo, we can directly monitor protein stability and conformation. Thus, by combining behavioral assays, imaging and biochemical techniques, we are able to monitor protein misfolding at the resolution of the organism, the cell, and the protein, respectively.

Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism

To study the relationship between protein homeostasis, stress and aging, we monitored changes in protein folding by following protein dysfunction, protein localization in the cell and protein stability at the organismal, cellular and protein levels, using the genetically tractable metazoan Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system.

The folding and assembly of proteins is essential for protein function, the long-term health of the cell, and longevity of the organism. Historically, the ...

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a vital process for normal tissue development and wound healing, but is also associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Using this protocol, angiogenesis may be measured in vitro in a fast, quantifiable manner. Primary or immortalized endothelial cells are mixed with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane matrix. The endothelial cells form capillary like structures in response to angiogenic signals found in conditioned media. The tube formation occurs quickly with endothelial cells beginning to align themselves within 1&#160;hr and lumen-containing tubules beginning to appear within 2 hr. Tubes can be visualized using a phase contrast inverted microscope, or the cells can be treated with calcein AM prior to the assay and tubes visualized through fluorescence or confocal microscopy. The number of branch sites/nodes, loops/meshes, or number or length of tubes formed can be easily quantified as a measure of in vitro angiogenesis. In summary, this assay can be used to identify genes and pathways that are involved in the promotion or inhibition of angiogenesis in a rapid, reproducible, and quantitative manner.

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

The tube formation assay is a fast, quantifiable method for measuring in vitro angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are combined with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane extract. Tube formation occurs within hours and newly formed tubules easily quantified.

Angiogenesis is a vital process for normal tissue development and wound healing, but is also associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Using ...

Enhanced Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing for Assessment of DNA Methylation at Base Pair Resolution

DNA methylation pattern mapping is heavily studied in normal and diseased tissues. A variety of methods have been established to interrogate the cytosine methylation patterns in cells. Reduced representation of whole genome bisulfite sequencing was developed to detect quantitative base pair resolution cytosine methylation patterns at GC-rich genomic loci. This is accomplished by combining the use of a restriction enzyme followed by bisulfite conversion. Enhanced Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (ERRBS) increases the biologically relevant genomic loci covered and has been used to profile cytosine methylation in DNA from human, mouse and other organisms. ERRBS initiates with restriction enzyme digestion of DNA to generate low molecular weight fragments for use in library preparation. These fragments are subjected to standard library construction for next generation sequencing. Bisulfite conversion of unmethylated cytosines prior to the final amplification step allows for quantitative base resolution of cytosine methylation levels in covered genomic loci. The protocol can be completed within four days. Despite low complexity in the first three bases sequenced, ERRBS libraries yield high quality data when using a designated sequencing control lane. Mapping and bioinformatics analysis is then performed and yields data that can be easily integrated with a variety of genome-wide platforms. ERRBS can utilize small input material quantities making it feasible to process human clinical samples and applicable in a range of research applications. The video produced demonstrates critical steps of the ERRBS protocol.

Enhanced Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing is a method for the preparation of sequencing libraries for DNA methylation analysis based on restriction enzyme digestion combined with cytosine bisulfite conversion. This protocol requires 50 ng of starting material and yields base pair resolution data at GC-rich genomic regions.

DNA methylation pattern mapping is heavily studied in normal and diseased tissues. A variety of methods have been established to interrogate the cytosine ...

Correlating Gene-specific DNA Methylation Changes with Expression and Transcriptional Activity of Astrocytic KCNJ10 (Kir4.1)

DNA methylation serves to regulate gene expression through the covalent attachment of a methyl group onto the C5 position of a cytosine in a cytosine-guanine dinucleotide. While DNA methylation provides long-lasting and stable changes in gene expression, patterns and levels of DNA methylation are also subject to change based on a variety of signals and stimuli. As such, DNA methylation functions as a powerful and dynamic regulator of gene expression. The study of neuroepigenetics has revealed a variety of physiological and pathological states that are associated with both global and gene-specific changes in DNA methylation. Specifically, striking correlations between changes in gene expression and DNA methylation exist in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, during synaptic plasticity, and following CNS injury. However, as the field of neuroepigenetics continues to expand its understanding of the role of DNA methylation in CNS physiology, delineating causal relationships in regards to changes in gene expression and DNA methylation are essential. Moreover, in regards to the larger field of neuroscience, the presence of vast region and cell-specific differences requires techniques that address these variances when studying the transcriptome, proteome, and epigenome. Here we describe FACS sorting of cortical astrocytes that allows for subsequent examination of a both RNA transcription and DNA methylation. Furthermore, we detail a technique to examine DNA methylation, methylation sensitive high resolution melt analysis (MS-HRMA) as well as a luciferase promoter assay. Through the use of these combined techniques one is able to not only explore correlative changes between DNA methylation and gene expression, but also directly assess if changes in the DNA methylation status of a given gene region are sufficient to affect transcriptional activity.

Correlating Gene-specific DNA Methylation Changes with Expression and Transcriptional Activity of Astrocytic KCNJ10 Kir4.1

DNA methylation is capable of maintaining stable levels of gene expression as well as allowing for dynamic changes in gene expression in response to a variety of stimuli. We detail techniques that allow the study of gene-specific changes in DNA methylation and the effect of these changes on gene expression.