Utilizing bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) to assay protein-protein interaction in plants

Methods Mol Biol. 2010:655:347-58. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-765-5_23.

Abstract

Protein function is often mediated by the formation of stable or transient complexes. Here we present a method for testing protein-protein interactions in plants designated bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). The advantages of BiFC are its simplicity, reliability, and the ability to observe protein-protein interactions in different cellular compartments including membranes. BiFC is based on splitting the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) into two nonoverlapping N-terminal (YN) and C-terminal (YC) fragments. Each fragment is cloned in-frame with a gene of interest, enabling expression of a fusion protein. Reconstitution of the fluorescing YFP chromophore takes place upon interaction of protein pairs that are coexpressed in the same cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Fluorescence
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Immunoblotting / methods
  • Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*
  • Rhizobium / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria