This work was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Ciencias y Tecnolog&#237;a-M&#233;xico (CONACyT-Mexico) (82614, 153998, 253549, and 178359&#160;in Investigaci&#243;n Cient&#237;fica B&#225;sica as well as 118 in Investigaci&#243;n en Fronteras de la Ciencia) and from Direcci&#243;n General de Asuntos de Personal Acad&#233;mico-Universidad Nacional Aut&#243;noma de M&#233;xico (DGAPA-UNAM; PAPIIT IN202616, IN203612).

1. Clone and Overexpress Structural Gene for Predicted Lipase
<ol>
	<li>Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)14 and specific oligonucleotides (Table 1)15, amplify the gene of interest (smc01003, smc00930, or smc00171), predicted to code for a lipase or phospholipase, from the genomic DNA of the host organism (i.e., S. meliloti).
	<ol>
		<li>Introduce specific restriction sites (with the designed sequence of the oligonucleotides). Digest...

<ol>
	<li>Nelson, D. L., Cox, 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=.">.</a> Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry. , (2013).</li><li>Jaeger, K. E., Eggert, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lipases+for+biotechnology.">Lipases for biotechnology.</a> Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 13 (4), 390-397 (2002).</li><li>Dowhan, W., Bogdanov, M., Mileykovskaya, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+roles+of+lipids+in+membranes.">Functional roles of lipids in membranes.</a> Biochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Membranes. , 1-37 (2008).</li><li>Dowhan, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+basis+for+membrane+phospholipid+diversity:+why+are+there+so+many+lipids?.">Molecular basis for membrane phospholipid diversity: why are there so many lipids?.</a> Annu. Rev. Biochem. 66, 199-232 (1997).</li><li>De Rudder, K. E. E., Thomas-Oates, J. E., Geiger, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rhizobium+meliloti+mutants+deficient+in+phospholipid+N-methyltransferase+still+contain+phosphatidylcholine.">Rhizobium meliloti mutants deficient in phospholipid N-methyltransferase still contain phosphatidylcholine.</a> J. Bacteriol. 179, 6921-6928 (1997).</li><li>Geiger, O., R&#246;hrs, V., Weissenmayer, B., Finan, T. M., Thomas-Oates, J. 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+regulator+gene+phoB+mediates+phosphate+stress-controlled+synthesis+of+the+membrane+lipid+diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine+in+Rhizobium+(Sinorhizobium)+meliloti.">The regulator gene phoB mediates phosphate stress-controlled synthesis of the membrane lipid diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine in Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti.</a> Mol. Microbiol. 32 (1), 63-73 (1999).</li><li>Klug, R. M., Benning, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two+enzymes+of+diacylglyceryl-O-4'-(N,N,N,-trimethyl)homoserine+biosynthesis+are+encoded+by+btaA+and+btaB+in+the+purple+bacterium+Rhodobacter+sphaeroides.">Two enzymes of diacylglyceryl-O-4'-(N,N,N,-trimethyl)homoserine biosynthesis are encoded by btaA and btaB in the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 98 (10), 5910-5915 (2001).</li><li>Zavaleta-Pastor, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sinorhizobium+meliloti+phospholipase+C+required+for+lipid+remodeling+duringphosphorus+limitation.">Sinorhizobium meliloti phospholipase C required for lipid remodeling duringphosphorus limitation.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 107 (1), 302-307 (2010).</li><li>Pech-Canul, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=FadD+is+required+for+utilization+of+endogenous+fatty+acids+released+from+membrane+lipids.">FadD is required for utilization of endogenous fatty acids released from membrane lipids.</a> J. Bacteriol. 193 (22), 6295-6304 (2011).</li><li>Banerji, S., Flieger, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patatin-like+proteins:+a+new+family+of+lipolytic+enzymes+present+in+bacteria?.">Patatin-like proteins: a new family of lipolytic enzymes present in bacteria?.</a> Microbiology. 150 (Pt 3), 522-525 (2004).</li><li>Sahonero-Canavesi, D. X., 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=Fatty+acid-releasing+activities+in+Sinorhizobium+meliloti+include+unusual+diacylglycerol+lipase.">Fatty acid-releasing activities in Sinorhizobium meliloti include unusual diacylglycerol lipase.</a> Environ. Microbiol. 17 (9), 3391-3406 (2015).</li><li>Fischer, M., Pleiss, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Lipase+Engineering+Database:+a+navigation+and+analysis+tool+for+protein+families.">The Lipase Engineering Database: a navigation and analysis tool for protein families.</a> Nucl. Acid. Res. 31 (1), 319-321 (2003).</li><li>Sigrist, C. J. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+and+continuing+developments+at+PROSITE.">New and continuing developments at PROSITE.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 41 (Database issue), D344-D347 (2013).</li><li>Lorenz, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polymerase+Chain+Reaction:+Basic+Protocol+Plus+Troubleshooting+and+Optimization+Strategies.">Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (63), e3998 (2012).</li><li>Untergasser, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primer3+-+new+capabilities+and+interfaces.">Primer3 - new capabilities and interfaces.</a> Nucl. Acids Res. 40 (15), e115 (2012).</li><li>Studier, F. W., Rosenberg, A. H., Dunn, J. J., Dubendorff, 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=Use+of+T7+RNA+polymerase+to+direct+expression+of+cloned+genes.">Use of T7 RNA polymerase to direct expression of cloned genes.</a> Methods Enzymol. 185, 60-89 (1990).</li><li>Miller, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Experiments in Molecular Genetics. , (1972).</li><li>Desjardins, P., Hansen, J. B., Allen, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microvolume+Protein+Concentration+Determination+using+the+NanoDrop+2000c+Spectrophotometer.">Microvolume Protein Concentration Determination using the NanoDrop 2000c Spectrophotometer.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (33), e1610 (2009).</li><li>Bligh, E. G., Dyer, W. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+rapid+method+for+total+lipid+extraction+and+purification.">A rapid method for total lipid extraction and purification.</a> Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 37 (8), 911-917 (1959).</li><li>Molecular Dynamics. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Phosphorimager SI User&#180;s Guide. , (1994).</li><li>Dixon, M., Webb, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Enzymes: Third Edition. , (1979).</li><li>Rudolph, A. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expression,+characterization,+and+mutagenesis+of+the+Yersinia+pestis+murine+toxin,+a+phospholipase+D+superfamily+member.">Expression, characterization, and mutagenesis of the Yersinia pestis murine toxin, a phospholipase D superfamily member.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 274 (17), 11824-11831 (1999).</li><li>Kato, S., Yoshimura, T., Hemmi, H., Moriyama, R. <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+a+novel+lipolytic+enzyme+YvdO+from+Bacillus+subtilis.">Biochemical analysis of a novel lipolytic enzyme YvdO from Bacillus subtilis.</a> Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 74 (4), 701-706 (2010).</li><li>Peppelenbosch, M. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinome+profiling.">Kinome profiling.</a> Scientifica (Cairo). , (2012).</li><li>Manafi, M., Kneifel, W., Bascomb, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorogenic+and+chromogenic+substrates+used+in+bacterial+diagnostics.">Fluorogenic and chromogenic substrates used in bacterial diagnostics.</a> Microbiol. Rev. 55 (3), 335-348 (1991).</li><li>Kuznetsova, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enzyme+genomics:+Application+of+general+enzymatic+screens+to+discover+new+enzymes.">Enzyme genomics: Application of general enzymatic screens to discover new enzymes.</a> FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 29 (2), 263-279 (2005).</li><li>Scopes, R. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Protein Purification, Principles and Practice. , (2010).</li><li>Geiger, O., Lopez-Lara, I. M., Sohlenkamp, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phosphatidylcholine+biosynthesis+and+function+in+bacteria.">Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and function in bacteria.</a> Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1831 (3), 503-513 (2013).</li></ol>

Over the past 20 years, genomes of many organisms have been sequenced and although a wealth of genome sequence data has been generated, functional interpretation is lagging behind and therefore hampers our understanding of genome function. Gene functions in genomes are often assigned based on similarity to genes of known function or occurrence of conserved motifs. However, the precise function of a given gene is often not known. Especially, predicted structural genes for enzymes cannot be easily explored by omic techniqu...

Glycerol-based lipids such as triacylglycerols and (glycero)phospholipids constitute important and probably the best-known lipid classes1. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are fats or oils, which usually function as storage lipids, and therefore as potential energy and carbon sources. TAGs can be degraded by lipases, which are frequently secreted by the producing organism to digest external TAGs and make them available as carbon sources. Also, lipases have been widely studied over the years due to their important biotechnological applications2.
Due to their amphiphilic nature and their near-cylindric shape, (glycero)phospholipids exhibit membrane-forming properties and usually constitute the major lipidic components of a bilayered membrane3. In simple microorganisms, such as the bacterium Escherichia coli, only three major head group variants, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), cardiolipin (CL), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are encountered, although one should be aware that each one of them can be substituted with a considerable number of different fatty acyl chains at the sn-1 or sn-2 position giving rise to a large number of different molecular species4. Other bacteria might have other phospholipids in addition or instead. For example, Sinorhizobium meliloti, a soil bacterium, which is able to form a nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis with the legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa), contains in addition to PE a second zwitterionic phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine (PC)5. Also, lipids not containing phosphorus or glycerol might be amphiphilic and form part of the cellular membrane. For example, upon phosphorus-limiting growth conditions, in S. meliloti, (glycero)phospholipids are largely replaced by membrane lipids that do not contain phosphorus, i.e., sulfolipids, ornithine lipids, and diacylglyceryl trimethylhomoserine (DGTS)6. In bacteria, DGTS is formed from diacylglycerol (DAG) in a two-step pathway7 but the source for DAG generation was not clear. Pulse-chase experiments suggested that PC might be a precursor for DGTS8 and using the methodology described in this manuscript we could identify a phospholipase C (PlcP, SMc00171) that is formed under phosphorus-limiting conditions and which can convert PC into DAG and phosphocholine8.
In a separate study, we discovered that an acyl-CoA synthetase (FadD)-deficient mutant of S. meliloti or of Escherichia coli accumulated free fatty acids when entering stationary phase of growth9. Although these fatty acids seemed to be derived from membrane lipids, the precise source for the free fatty acids or the enzyme(s) liberating them were not known. Again, employing the strategy outlined in this manuscript, two patatin-like10 (phospho)lipases (SMc00930 and SMc01003) that contributed to the formation of free fatty acids in S. meliloti11 were predicted. Surprisingly, SMc01003 used DAG as substrate converting it to monoacylglycerol and finally glycerol and free fatty acids11. Therefore, SMc01003 is a DAG lipase (DglA).
Although a number of algorithms exist for predicting potential (phospho)lipases12,13, their precise function and physiological role is usually not known. Here we outline a protocol, to clone and overexpress predicted or potential (phospho)lipases. This manuscript explains how enzyme assays can be developed and optimized for the overexpressed (phospho)lipase by using artificial chromogenic substrates. We provide examples how with an optimized enzyme assay the real (phospho)lipase substrate can be encountered and how these findings might enrich our understanding of microbial physiology.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Chloroform</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>9180-03</td>
			<td>TLC analysis &#38; Lipid extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>9070-03</td>
			<td>TLC analysis &#38; Lipid extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic Acid</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>9507-05</td>
			<td>TLC analysis &#38; Lipid extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hexanes</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>9309-02</td>
			<td>TLC analysis &#38; Lipid extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diethylether</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>32203</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>bidistilled water</td>
			<td>&#160;ANY</td>
			<td>&#160;NA</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris Base</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T-1503</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HCl</td>
			<td>Baker</td>
			<td>9535-02</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Baker</td>
			<td>3624-01</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>X-100</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LB broth</td>
			<td>ANY</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth, 10g tryptone + 5g yeast extract + 10g NaCl per liter of bidistilled water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tryptone</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson and Company</td>
			<td>211705</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>yeast extract</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson and Company</td>
			<td>212750</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TY broth</td>
			<td>ANY</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth, 8g tryptone + 3g yeast extract + 66mg CaCl2 2 H20 per liter of bidistilled water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2 2 H2O</td>
			<td>Baker</td>
			<td>1332-01</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>isopropyl-&#946;-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15529-019</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diethanolamine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D-8885</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MnCl2</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>221279</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phospholipase A2 snake venom</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P0790</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phospholipase C Clostridium perfingrens</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P7633</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>07422AH</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>p-nitrophenyl stearate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>N3627</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>p-nitrophenyl dodecanoate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>61716</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>p-nitrophenyl decanoate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>N0252</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>p-nitrophenyl palmitate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>N2752</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>p-nitrophenyl butyrate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>N9876</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>p-nitrophenyl octanoate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>21742</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic Acid, sodium salt [1-14C]</td>
			<td>Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td>NEC084</td>
			<td>Bacterial growth</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>9224-01</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aluminium HPTLC silica gel 60 plates. Silica gel HPTLC plates size 20 x 20 cm, 25 sheets.</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>105547</td>
			<td>TLC analysis &#38; Lipid extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spectrometer UV/VIS Lambda 35</td>
			<td>Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Storm 820 Phosphorimager</td>
			<td>Molecular Dynamics</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Photostimulable Luminescence scanner&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multipurpose Scintillation Counter</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Radioactivity Quantification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>French Pressure Cell</td>
			<td>ThermoSpectronic</td>
			<td>NA&#160;</td>
			<td>Breakage of cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>chromatography paper 3MM Chr</td>
			<td>Whatman</td>
			<td>3030917</td>
			<td>TLC analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021our</td>
			<td>reference 34</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>studied strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS Competent cells</td>
			<td>Novagen</td>
			<td>69451</td>
			<td>protein expression strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pET9a vector</td>
			<td>Novagen</td>
			<td>69431</td>
			<td>protein expression vector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pET17b vector</td>
			<td>Novagen</td>
			<td>69663</td>
			<td>protein expression vector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>sterile polystyrene round-bottom tube (14 ml) Falcon</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>352057</td>
			<td>radiolabeling of bacterial cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes (1.5 ml)</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>30125.15</td>
			<td>Enzymatic assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D9135</td>
			<td>lipid standard</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-&#945;-phosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoyl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P6267</td>
			<td>lipid standard</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DL-&#945;-monopalmitin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M1640</td>
			<td>lipid standard</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>palmitic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P0500</td>
			<td>lipid standard</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

defining substrate specificities for lipase and phospholipase candidates

Microorganisms produce a wide spectrum of (phospho)lipases that are secreted in order to make external substrates available for the organism. Alternatively, other (phospho)lipases may be physically associated with the producing organism causing a turnover of intrinsic lipids and frequently giving rise to a remodeling of the cellular membranes. Although potential (phospho)lipases can be predicted with a number of algorithms when the gene/protein sequence is available, experimental proof of the enzyme activities, substrate specificities, and potential physiological functions has frequently not been obtained. This manuscript describes the optimization of assay conditions for prospective (phospho)lipases with unknown substrate specificities and how to employ these optimized conditions in the search for the natural substrate of a respective (phospho)lipase. Using artificial chromogenic substrates, such as p-nitrophenyl derivatives, may help to detect a minor enzymatic activity for a predicted (phospho)lipase under standard conditions. Having encountered such a minor enzymatic activity, the distinct parameters of an enzyme assay can be varied in order to obtain a more efficient hydrolysis of the artificial substrate. After having determined the conditions under which an enzyme works well, a variety of potential natural substrates should be assayed for their degradation, a process that can be followed employing distinct chromatographic methods. The definition of substrate specificities for new enzymes, often provides hypotheses for a potential physiological role of these enzymes, which then can be tested experimentally. Following these guidelines, we were able to identify a phospholipase C (SMc00171) that degrades phosphatidylcholine to phosphocholine and diacylglycerol, in a crucial step for the remodeling of membranes in the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti upon phosphorus-limiting conditions of growth. For two predicted patatin-like phospholipases (SMc00930 and SMc01003) of the same organism, we could redefine their substrate specificities and clarify that SMc01003 is a diacylglycerol lipase.

Activity of PC-specific Phospholipase C SMc00171 with Bis-p-nitrophenyl Phosphate
Cell-free extracts obtained from E. coli BL21(DE3) x pLysS, which had smc00171 expressed, were studied for their ability to hydrolyze bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate esters, using a spectrophotometric enzymatic assay, measuring the p-NP formed. No hydrolytic...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates at JoVE.com

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates

Many predicted (phospho)lipases are poorly characterized with regard to their substrate specificities and physiological functions. Here we provide a protocol to optimize enzyme activities, search for natural substrates, and propose physiological functions for these enzymes.

Microorganisms produce a wide spectrum of (phospho)lipases that are secreted in order to make external substrates available for the organism. ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to accelerate the detection of physiological substrates for potential lipases and phosopholipases. This method can help answer key questions in the Entomology field, such as how phospholipases contribute to lipid remodeling in biological membranes. The main advantage of this technique is that the optimization of enzymatic activity and the search for the natural substrate for the enzyme can be performed independently.Though this method can provide insight into substrate specificity of bacterial lipases and phospholipases, it can also be modified to study hydrolases of any other model organisms. We first had the idea for this method when we searched for an enzyme activity that could degrade the intrinsic membrane lipid phosphatidylcholine inorhizobium meliloti. To prepare cell-free protein extracts, defrost bacterial cell suspensions and store them on ice.Then, pass the cell suspensions three times through a cold pressure cell at 20, 000 pounds per square inch. Remove the in-tact cells and cell debris by centrifugation at 5, 000 times g for 30 minutes, at four degrees Celsius. After centrifugation, prepare aliquots of 100 and 500 microliters from the supernatant for subsequent analysis.Set up the previously-optimized enzyme assay using the pipetting schemes tabulated in the text protocol. For an initial coverage of distinct enzyme activities, use artificial substrates that yield a colored product upon hydrolysis, such as para-nitrophenol or PNP derivatives. Follow the time course for an increase of absorbance at 405 nanometers, due to the formation of PNP in a spectrophotometer at 30 degrees Celsius over a five-minute period.Finally, perform calculations as described in the text protocol. For radio labeling of lipids, prepare an overnight pre-culture of an organism of interest in five milliliters of the desired culture medium and grow at 30 degrees Celsius. From the pre-culture, inoculate into 20 millimeters of fresh medium in a 100-millimeter culture flask, to obtain an initial optical density at 620 nanometers of 0.3 for the culture.Next, transfer a one-milliliter aliquot of the culture to a 14-milliliter sterile polystyrene round bottom tube under sterile conditions. Add one microcurie of 114 c acetate to the one-milliliter culture. Then, incubate the liquid culture under agitation at 30 degrees Celsius for a period of 24 hours.At the end of the incubation period, transfer the culture to a 1.5 milliliter microcentrifuge tube and centrifuge at 12, 000 times g at room temperature for five minutes. Resuspend the pellet in 100 microliters of water. At this point, store the cell suspension at minus 20 degrees Celsius or immediately continue with the extraction of polar lipids.To perform the extraction of polar lipids, add 375 microliters of a two to one methanol to chloroform solution to the 100 microliters of aqueous cell suspension. Vortex the sample for 30 seconds before incubating for five minutes at room temperature. Following incubation, centrifuge for five minutes at 12, 000 times g at room temperature.Then, transfer the supernatant to a new 1.5 milliliter microcentrifuge tube. Next, add 125 microliters of chloroform and 125 microliters of water to the supernatant. After vortexing for 30 seconds, centrifuge the sample for one minute at 12, 000 times g at room temperature.Transfer the lower chloroform phase to a fresh tube. Then, dry the solution with a stream of nitrogen gas. Dissolve the dried lipids in 100 microliters of chloroform to methanol solution.For separation of neutral polar lipids by thin layer chromatography, apply three microliter aliquots of the lipid samples, on a high performance thin-layer chromatography silica gel aluminum sheet, starting two centimeters from the edges of the plate. If multiple samples are analyzed in one-dimensional chromatography, keep a distance of at least 1.5 centimeters between the different sample application spots. Transfer the mobile phase to a TLC developing chamber, internally coated with chromatography paper.Cover with a glass plate to let the chamber saturate for 30 minutes. Transfer the HPTLC Silica Gel aluminum sheet with the dried lipid samples to the chamber. Allow the plate to develop for 30 minutes in a closed chamber before removing the plate.Then, let the solvents dry off in a flow hood for two hours. Once the developed TLC sheet is dry, incubate it with a photostimulable luminescence screen in a closed cassette for three days. Then, expose the incubated screen to a PSL scanner and acquire a virtual image of the separated radio-labeled lipids.To determine diacylglycerol, or DAG, lipase activity, first add 5, 000 CPM of 14 C-labeled DAG to a 1.5 milliliter microcentrifuge tube. Also, add a solution of Triton X-100 to the tube and mix by vortex. Dry the solution under a stream of nitrogen.For a final 100 microliter assay, add Tris-HCl buffer, a sodium chloride solution, and bi-distilled water. Vortex for five seconds. Initiate the reaction by adding five microliters of enzyme to the solution.Incubate the solution at 30 degrees Celsius for four hours. Stop the reaction by the addition of 250 microliters of methanol and 125 microliters of chloroform, before extracting lipids as described earlier in this video. Proceed to analyze neutral polar lipids by 1DTLC and subsequent PSL imaging as before.Although the predicted phosopholipase SMc01003 shows activity with artificial para-nitrophenol acyl esters, the activity is only double or triple of the background activity present in cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli, in which no foreign gene had been expressed. This indicates that para-nitrophenyl acyl esters don't seem to be good substrates for SMc01003. Whereas cell-free extracts of E.Coli cannot degrade diacylglycerol, extracts of strains in which the predicted phospholipase, SMc01003, had been expressed, caused a degradation of diacylglycerol.Though SMc01003 was predicted to be a phospholipase, it is actually a diacylglycerol lipase that degrades diacylglycerol to monoacylglycerol and one fatty acid. It then degrades monoacylglycerol further to glycerol and another fatty acid. Once mastered, this technique can be done in a few weeks if it's performed properly.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to optimize enzyme activities of lipases and phospholipases, and how to continue with the search for their physiological substrates. A crucial advantage of this procedure is that the optimization of the enzyme activity can be separated from the search for the natural enzyme substrate. Don't forget that working with organic solvents or radioactive substances can be extremely hazardous and the required precautions should always be taken while performing this procedure.

defining-substrate-specificities-for-lipase-phospholipase

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

High-throughput Screening of Carbohydrate-degrading Enzymes Using Novel Insoluble Chromogenic Substrate Assay Kits

Carbohydrates active enzymes (CAZymes) have multiple roles in vivo and are widely used for industrial processing in the biofuel, textile, detergent, paper and food industries. A deeper understanding of CAZymes is important from both fundamental biology and industrial standpoints. Vast numbers of CAZymes exist in nature (especially in microorganisms) and hundreds of thousands have been cataloged and described in the carbohydrate active enzyme database (CAZy). However, the rate of discovery of putative enzymes has outstripped our ability to biochemically characterize their activities. One reason for this is that advances in genome and transcriptome sequencing, together with associated bioinformatics tools allow for rapid identification of candidate CAZymes, but technology for determining an enzyme's biochemical characteristics has advanced more slowly. To address this technology gap, a novel high-throughput assay kit based on insoluble chromogenic substrates is described here. Two distinct substrate types were produced: Chromogenic Polymer Hydrogel (CPH) substrates (made from purified polysaccharides and proteins) and Insoluble Chromogenic Biomass (ICB) substrates (made from complex biomass materials). Both CPH and ICB substrates are provided in a 96-well high-throughput assay system. The CPH substrates can be made in four different colors, enabling them to be mixed together and thus increasing assay throughput. The protocol describes a 96-well plate assay and illustrates how this assay can be used for screening the activities of enzymes, enzyme cocktails, and broths.

A high-throughput assay for enzyme screening is described. This multiplexed ready-to-use assay kit comprises of pre-chosen Chromogenic Polymer Hydrogel (CPH) substrates and complex Insoluble Chromogenic Biomass (ICB) substrates. Target enzymes are polysaccharide degrading endo-enzymes and proteases.

Carbohydrates active enzymes (CAZymes) have multiple roles in vivo and are widely used for industrial processing in the biofuel, textile, detergent, paper ...

A Rapid Laser Probing Method Facilitates the Non-invasive and Contact-free Determination of Leaf Thermal Properties

Plants can produce valuable substances such as secondary metabolites and recombinant proteins. The purification of the latter from plant biomass can be streamlined by heat treatment (blanching). A blanching apparatus can be designed more precisely if the thermal properties of the leaves are known in detail, i.e., the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. The measurement of these properties is time consuming and labor intensive, and usually requires invasive methods that contact the sample directly. This can reduce the product yield and may be incompatible with containment requirements, e.g., in the context of good manufacturing practice. To address these issues, a non-invasive, contact-free method was developed that determines the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of an intact plant leaf in about one minute. The method involves the application of a short laser pulse of defined length and intensity to a small area of the leaf sample, causing a temperature increase that is measured using a near infrared sensor. The temperature increase is combined with known leaf properties (thickness and density) to determine the specific heat capacity. The thermal conductivity is then calculated based on the profile of the subsequent temperature decline, taking thermal radiation and convective heat transfer into account. The associated calculations and critical aspects of sample handling are discussed.

A method was developed to determine the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of leaf tissue by non-invasive, contact-free near infrared laser probing, which requires less than 1 min per sample.

Plants can produce valuable substances such as secondary metabolites and recombinant proteins. The purification of the latter from plant biomass can be ...

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092

Development of new antimicrobials and vaccines for Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are necessary to halt the rapid rise in multiple resistant strains. Carbohydrate substrate binding proteins (SBPs) represent viable targets for the development of protein-based vaccines and new antimicrobials because of their extracellular localization and the centrality of carbohydrate import for pneumococcal metabolism, respectively. Described here is a rationalized integrated protocol to carry out a comprehensive characterization of SP0092, which can be extended to other carbohydrate SBPs from the pneumococcus and other bacteria. This procedure can aid the structure-based design of inhibitors for this class of proteins. Presented in the first part of this manuscript are protocols for biochemical analysis by thermal shift assay, multi angle light scattering (MALS), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), which optimize the stability and homogeneity of the sample directed to crystallization trials and so enhance the probability of success. The second part of this procedure describes the characterization of the SBP crystals using a tunable wavelength anomalous diffraction synchrotron beamline, and data collection protocols for measuring data that can be used to resolve the crystallized protein structure.

A streamlined protocol for performing an extensive biochemical and structural characterization of a carbohydrate substrate binding protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae is presented.

Development of new antimicrobials and vaccines for Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are necessary to halt the rapid rise in multiple resistant ...

Defining Hsp33's Redox-regulated Chaperone Activity and Mapping Conformational Changes on Hsp33 Using Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry

Living organisms regularly need to cope with fluctuating environments during their life cycle, including changes in temperature, pH, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and more. These fluctuations can lead to a widespread protein unfolding, aggregation, and cell death. Therefore, cells have evolved a dynamic and stress-specific network of molecular chaperones, which maintain a "healthy" proteome during stress conditions. ATP-independent chaperones constitute one major class of molecular chaperones, which serve as first-line defense molecules, protecting against protein aggregation in a stress-dependent manner. One feature these chaperones have in common is their ability to utilize structural plasticity for their stress-specific activation, recognition, and release of the misfolded client. 
In this paper, we focus on the functional and structural analysis of one such intrinsically disordered chaperone, the bacterial redox-regulated Hsp33, which protects proteins against aggregation during oxidative stress. Here, we present a toolbox of diverse techniques for studying redox-regulated chaperone activity, as well as for mapping conformational changes of the chaperone, underlying its activity. Specifically, we describe a workflow which includes the preparation of fully reduced and fully oxidized proteins, followed by an analysis of the chaperone anti-aggregation activity in vitro using light-scattering, focusing on the degree of the anti-aggregation activity and its kinetics. To overcome frequent outliers accumulated during aggregation assays, we describe the usage of Kfits, a novel graphical tool which allows easy processing of kinetic measurements. This tool can be easily applied to other types of kinetic measurements for removing outliers and fitting kinetic parameters. To correlate the function with the protein structure, we describe the setup and workflow of a structural mass spectrometry technique, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, that allows the mapping of conformational changes on the chaperone and substrate during different stages of Hsp33 activity. The same methodology can be applied to other protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.

Defining Hsp33&#039;s Redox-regulated Chaperone Activity and Mapping Conformational Changes on Hsp33 Using Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry

One of the most challenging stress conditions that organisms encounter during their lifetime involves the accumulation of oxidants. During oxidative stress, cells heavily rely on molecular chaperones. Here, we present methods used to investigate the redox-regulated anti-aggregation activity, as well as to monitor structural changes governing the chaperone function using HDX-MS.

Living organisms regularly need to cope with fluctuating environments during their life cycle, including changes in temperature, pH, the accumulation of ...

Detection of Phospholipase C Activity in the Brain Homogenate from the Honeybee

The honeybee is a model organism for evaluating complex behaviors and higher brain function, such as learning, memory, and division of labor. The mushroom body (MB) is a higher brain center proposed to be the neural substrate of complex honeybee behaviors. Although previous studies identified genes and proteins that are differentially expressed in the MBs and other brain regions, the activities of the proteins in each region are not yet fully understood. To reveal the functions of these proteins in the brain, pharmacologic analysis is a feasible approach, but it is first necessary to confirm that pharmacologic manipulations indeed alter the protein activity in these brain regions.
We previously identified a higher expression of genes encoding phospholipase C (PLC) in the MBs than in other brain regions, and pharmacologically assessed the involvement of PLC in honeybee behavior. In that study, we biochemically tested two pharmacologic agents and confirmed that they decreased PLC activity in the MBs and other brain regions. Here, we present a detailed description of how to detect PLC activity in honeybee brain homogenate. In this assay system, homogenates derived from different brain regions are reacted with a synthetic fluorogenic substrate, and fluorescence resulting from PLC activity is quantified and compared between brain regions. We also describe our evaluation of the inhibitory effects of certain drugs on PLC activity using the same system. Although this system is likely affected by other endogenous fluorescence compounds and/or the absorbance of the assay components and tissues, the measurement of PLC activity using this system is safer and easier than that using the traditional assay, which requires radiolabeled substrates. The simple procedure and manipulations allow us to examine PLC activity in the brains and other tissues of honeybees involved in different social tasks.

To test the inhibitory effects of pharmacologic agents on phospholipase C (PLC) in different regions of the honeybee brain, we present a biochemical assay to measure PLC activity in those regions. This assay could be useful for comparing PLC activity among tissues, as well as among bees exhibiting different behaviors.

The honeybee is a model organism for evaluating complex behaviors and higher brain function, such as learning, memory, and division of labor. The mushroom ...

Measuring and Interpreting Oxygen Consumption Rates in Whole Fly Head Segments

Regulated metabolic activity is essential for the normal functioning of living cells. Indeed, altered metabolic activity is causally linked with the progression of cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and aging to name a few. For instance, changes in mitochondrial activity, the cell&#39;s metabolic powerhouse, have been characterized in many such diseases. Generally, the oxygen consumption rates of mitochondria were considered a reliable readout of mitochondrial activity and measurements in some of these studies were based on isolated mitochondria or cells. However, such conditions may not represent the complexity of a whole tissue. Recently, we have developed a novel method that enables the dynamic measurement of oxygen consumption rates from whole isolated fly heads. By utilizing this method, we have recorded lower oxygen consumption rates of the whole head segment in young versus aged flies. Secondly, we have discovered that lysine deacetylase inhibitors rapidly alter the oxygen consumption in the whole head. Our novel technique may therefore aid in uncovering new properties of various drugs, which may impact metabolic rates. Furthermore, our method may give a better understanding of metabolic behavior in an experimental setup that more closely resembles physiological states.

Measuring alterations in metabolic rates is central to understanding the progression of various diseases and aging. Here, we present a novel technique to measure whole head oxygen consumption that more closely resembles the physiological state and may aid in revealing novel drugs that modify mitochondrial activity.

Regulated metabolic activity is essential for the normal functioning of living cells. Indeed, altered metabolic activity is causally linked with the ...

Fully Processed Recombinant KRAS4b: Isolating and Characterizing the Farnesylated and Methylated Protein

Protein prenylation is a key modification that is responsible for targeting proteins to intracellular membranes. KRAS4b, which is mutated in 22% of human cancers, is processed by farnesylation and carboxymethylation due to the presence of a &#39;CAAX&#39; box motif at the C-terminus. An engineered baculovirus system was used to express farnesylated and carboxymethylated KRAS4b in insect cells and has been described previously. Here, we describe the detailed, practical purification and biochemical characterization of the protein. Specifically, affinity and ion exchange chromatography were used to purify the protein to homogeneity. Intact and native mass spectrometry was used to validate the correct modification of KRAS4b and to verify nucleotide binding. Finally, membrane association of farnesylated and carboxymethylated KRAS4b to liposomes was measured using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy.

Prenylation is an important modification on peripheral membrane binding proteins. Insect cells can be manipulated to produce farnesylated and carboxymethylated KRAS4b in quantities that enable biophysical measurements of protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions

Protein prenylation is a key modification that is responsible for targeting proteins to intracellular membranes. KRAS4b, which is mutated in 22% of human ...

Visualization and Quantification of TGF&#946;/BMP/SMAD Signaling under Different Fluid Shear Stress Conditions using Proximity-Ligation-Assay

Transforming Growth Factor &#946; (TGF&#946;)/Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling is tightly regulated and balanced during the development and homeostasis of the vasculature system Therefore, deregulation in this signaling pathway results in severe vascular pathologies, such as pulmonary artery hypertension, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, and atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells (ECs), as the innermost layer of blood vessels, are constantly exposed to fluid shear stress (SS). Abnormal patterns of fluid SS have been shown to enhance TGF&#946;/BMP signaling, which, together with other stimuli, induce atherogenesis. In relation to this, atheroprone, low laminar SS was found to enhance TGF&#946;/BMP signaling while atheroprotective, high laminar SS, diminishes this signaling. To efficiently analyze the activation of these pathways, we designed a workflow to investigate the formation of transcription factor complexes under low laminar SS and high laminar SS conditions using a commercially available pneumatic pump system and proximity ligation assay (PLA).
Active TGF&#946;/BMP-signaling requires the formation of trimeric SMAD complexes consisting of two regulatory SMADs (R-SMAD); SMAD2/3 and SMAD1/5/8 for TGF&#946; and BMP signaling, respectively) with a common mediator SMAD (co-SMAD; SMAD4). Using PLA targeting different subunits of the trimeric SMAD-complex, i.e., either R-SMAD/co-SMAD or R-SMAD/R-SMAD, the formation of active SMAD transcription factor complexes can be measured quantitatively and spatially using fluorescence microscopy.
The usage of flow slides with 6 small parallel channels, that can be connected in series, allows for the investigation of the transcription factor complex formation and inclusion of necessary controls. 
The workflow explained here can be easily adapted for studies targeting the proximity of SMADs to other transcription factors or to transcription factor complexes other than SMADs, in different fluid SS conditions. The workflow presented here shows a quick and effective way to study the fluid SS induced TGF&#946;/BMP signaling in ECs, both quantitatively and spatially.

Visualization and Quantification of TGF&amp;#946;/BMP/SMAD Signaling under Different Fluid Shear Stress Conditions using Proximity-Ligation-Assay

Here, we establish a protocol to simultaneously visualize and analyze multiple SMAD complexes using proximity ligation assay (PLA) in endothelial cells exposed to pathological and physiological fluid shear stress conditions.

Transforming Growth Factor &#946; (TGF&#946;)/Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling is tightly regulated and balanced during the development and ...

Extraction and Purification of FAHD1 Protein from Swine Kidney and Mouse Liver

Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (FAHD1) is the first identified member of the FAH superfamily in eukaryotes, acting as oxaloacetate decarboxylase in mitochondria. This article presents a series of methods for the extraction and purification of FAHD1 from swine kidney and mouse liver. Covered methods are ionic exchange chromatography with fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), preparative and analytical gel filtration with FPLC, and proteomic approaches. After total protein extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation and ionic exchange chromatography were explored, and FAHD1 was extracted via a sequential strategy using ionic exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. This representative approach may be adapted to other proteins of interest (expressed at significant levels) and modified for other tissues. Purified protein from tissue may support the development of high-quality antibodies, and/or potent and specific pharmacological inhibitors.

This protocol describes how to extract fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (FAHD1) from swine kidney and mouse liver. The listed methods may be adapted to other proteins of interest and modified for other tissues.

Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (FAHD1) is the first identified member of the FAH superfamily in eukaryotes, acting as ...

Evaluation of Substrate Ubiquitylation by E3 Ubiquitin-ligase in Mammalian Cell Lysates

Ubiquitylation is a post-translational modification which occurs in eukaryotic cells that is critical for several biological pathways' regulation, including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. It is a reversible process that consists of a covalent attachment of ubiquitin to the substrate through a cascade reaction of at least three different enzymes, composed of E1 (Ubiquitin-activation enzyme), E2 (Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (Ubiquitin-ligase enzyme). The E3 complex plays an important role in substrate recognition and ubiquitylation. Here, a protocol is described to evaluate substrate ubiquitylation in mammalian cells using transient co-transfection of a plasmid encoding the selected substrate, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and a tagged ubiquitin. Before lysis, the transfected cells are treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 (carbobenzoxy-leu-leu-leucinal) to avoid substrate proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, the cell extract is submitted to small-scale immunoprecipitation (IP) to purify the polyubiquitylated substrate for subsequent detection by western blotting (WB) using specific antibodies for ubiquitin tag. Hence, a consistent and uncomplicated protocol for ubiquitylation assay in mammalian cells is described to assist scientists in addressing ubiquitylation of specific substrates and E3 ubiquitin ligases.

We provide a detailed protocol for a ubiquitylation assay of a specific substrate and an E3 ubiquitin-ligase in mammalian cells. HEK293T cell lines were used for protein overexpression, the polyubiquitylated substrate was purified from cell lysates by immunoprecipitation, and resolved in SDS-PAGE. Immunoblotting was used to visualize this post-translational modification.