A bidirectional fluorescent two-hybrid system for monitoring protein-protein interactions

Mol Biosyst. 2014 Mar 4;10(3):485-90. doi: 10.1039/c3mb70438f. Epub 2014 Jan 2.

Abstract

Two-hybrid systems have been the cornerstone of research into protein-protein interactions, but these systems typically rely on life/death reporters that put additional selective pressure on the host organism, and potentially lead to false positives. Here we report a bidirectional fluorescence-based bacterial two-hybrid system that enables both the association and dissociation of a given protein-protein interaction to be monitored. The functionality of this system and its compatibility with FACS screening are demonstrated in the forward and reverse direction using known interacting protein-partners and their cyclic peptide inhibitors. The reported fluorescent two-hybrid system may be used in the forward direction for the identification of interacting protein partners, or as a reverse two-hybrid system for the high-throughput identification of protein-protein interaction inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Discovery
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Order
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Interaction Mapping* / methods
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques*