A Molecular Toolkit to Visualize Native Protein Assemblies in the Context of Human Disease

Sci Rep. 2015 Sep 23:5:14440. doi: 10.1038/srep14440.

Abstract

We present a new molecular toolkit to investigate protein assemblies natively formed in the context of human disease. The system employs tunable microchips that can be decorated with switchable adaptor molecules to select for target proteins of interest and analyze them using molecular microscopy. Implementing our new streamlined microchip approach, we could directly visualize BRCA1 gene regulatory complexes from patient-derived cancer cells for the first time.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA1 Protein / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Humans
  • Microarray Analysis / methods*
  • Protein Conformation
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • BARD1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • RNA Polymerase II