SAM domain-based protein oligomerization observed by live-cell fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy

PLoS One. 2008 Apr 23;3(4):e1931. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001931.

Abstract

Sterile-alpha-motif (SAM) domains are common protein interaction motifs observed in organisms as diverse as yeast and human. They play a role in protein homo- and hetero-interactions in processes ranging from signal transduction to RNA binding. In addition, mutations in SAM domain and SAM-mediated oligomers have been linked to several diseases. To date, the observation of heterogeneous SAM-mediated oligomers in vivo has been elusive, which represents a common challenge in dissecting cellular biochemistry in live-cell systems. In this study, we report the oligomerization and binding stoichiometry of high-order, multi-component complexes of (SAM) domain proteins Ste11 and Ste50 in live yeast cells using fluorescence fluctuation methods. Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) and 1-dimensional photon counting histogram (1dPCH) confirm the SAM-mediated interaction and oligomerization of Ste11 and Ste50. Two-dimensional PCH (2dPCH), with endogenously expressed proteins tagged with GFP or mCherry, uniquely indicates that Ste11 and Ste50 form a heterogeneous complex in the yeast cytosol comprised of a dimer of Ste11 and a monomer of Ste50. In addition, Ste50 also exists as a high order oligomer that does not interact with Ste11, and the size of this oligomer decreases in response to signals that activate the MAP kinase cascade. Surprisingly, a SAM domain mutant of Ste50 disrupted not only the Ste50 oligomers but also Ste11 dimerization. These results establish an in vivo model of Ste50 and Ste11 homo- and hetero-oligomerization and highlight the usefulness of 2dPCH for quantitative dissection of complex molecular interactions in genetic model organisms such as yeast.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / chemistry
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Microbial Viability*
  • Photons
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • STE50 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • Ste11 protein, S cerevisiae