Proximity Ligation Assay Allows the Detection, Localization, and Quantification of Protein Arginine Methylation in Fixed Tissue

J Vis Exp. 2022 Jul 20:(185). doi: 10.3791/64294.

Abstract

Arginine methylation is emerging as a key post-translational modification involved in a large range of biological processes. Its study in tissue is often limited by the lack of a specific antibody recognizing the target arginine residue. Proximity ligation assay (PLA) was originally developed to study protein/protein interactions. Here, we describe in detail a PLA protocol dedicated to the detection of arginine methylation that we applied to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Having previously shown that PRMT5 dimethylates GRs in cells, we used PLA with a pan symmetrical dimethyl antibody and an anti-GR antibody to measure GR methylation in breast tumors. We demonstrate that PLA offers a unique approach to measure arginine methylation of a target protein, even when the site of methylation has not been identified. This technique could be extended to other post-translational modifications where effective pan antibodies are available. Hence, we detail the PLA technology used to detect arginine methylation in fixed tissue using GR as an example.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / metabolism
  • Arginine* / metabolism
  • Biological Phenomena*
  • Methylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / genetics
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Proteins
  • Arginine
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases