Experimental mapping of soluble protein domains using a hierarchical approach

Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Oct;39(18):e125. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr548. Epub 2011 Jul 19.

Abstract

Exploring the function and 3D space of large multidomain protein targets often requires sophisticated experimentation to obtain the targets in a form suitable for structure determination. Screening methods capable of selecting well-expressed, soluble fragments from DNA libraries exist, but require the use of automation to maximize chances of picking a few good candidates. Here, we describe the use of an insertion dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) vector to select in-frame fragments and a split-GFP assay technology to filter-out constructs that express insoluble protein fragments. With the incorporation of an IPCR step to create high density, focused sublibraries of fragments, this cost-effective method can be performed manually with no a priori knowledge of domain boundaries while permitting single amino acid resolution boundary mapping. We used it on the well-characterized p85α subunit of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of our methodology. We then successfully tested it onto the polyketide synthase PpsC from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a potential drug target involved in the biosynthesis of complex lipids in the cell envelope. X-ray quality crystals from the acyl-transferase (AT), dehydratase (DH) and enoyl-reductase (ER) domains have been obtained.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / chemistry
  • Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / genetics
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Gene Library*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / analysis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / enzymology
  • Polyketide Synthases / chemistry
  • Polyketide Synthases / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary*
  • Solubility
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / genetics

Substances

  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Polyketide Synthases
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase
  • Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase