LEC-BiFC: a new method for rapid assay of protein interaction

Biotech Histochem. 2011 Aug;86(4):272-9. doi: 10.3109/10520295.2010.483068. Epub 2010 May 14.

Abstract

Abstract Protein-protein interactions play fundamental roles in most biological processes. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) is a promising method for its simplicity and direct visualization of protein-protein interactions in cells. This method, however, is limited by background fluorescence that appears without specific interaction between the proteins. We report here a point mutation (V150L) in one Venus BiFC fragment that efficiently decreases background fluorescence of BiFC assay. Furthermore, by combining this modified BiFC and linear expression cassette (LEC), we develop a simple and rapid method (LEC-BiFC) for protein interaction analysis that is demonstrated by a case study of the interaction between Bcl-X(L) and Bak BH3 peptide. The total analysis procedure can be completed in two days for screening tens of mutants. LEC-BiFC can be applied easily in any lab equipped with a fluorescence microscope.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescence
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis*
  • Luminescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed / methods*
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / analysis*
  • bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / chemistry
  • bcl-X Protein / analysis*
  • bcl-X Protein / chemistry

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
  • bcl-X Protein