Maleimide photolithography for single-molecule protein-protein interaction analysis in micropatterns

Anal Chem. 2011 Jan 15;83(2):501-8. doi: 10.1021/ac1021453. Epub 2010 Dec 27.

Abstract

Spatial organization of proteins into microscopic structures has important applications in fundamental and applied research. Preserving the function of proteins in such microstructures requires generic methods for site-specific capturing through affinity handles. Here, we present a versatile bottom-up surface micropatterning approach based on surface functionalization with maleimides, which selectively react with organic thiols. Upon UV irradiation through a photomask, the functionality of illuminated maleimide groups was efficiently destroyed. Remaining maleimides in nonilluminated regions were further reacted with different thiol-functionalized groups for site-specific protein immobilization under physiological conditions. Highly selective immobilization of His-tagged proteins into tris(nitrilotriacetic acid) functionalized microstructures with very high contrast was possible even by direct capturing of proteins from crude cell lysates. Moreover, we employed phosphopantetheinyl transfer from surface-immobilized coenzyme A to ybbR-tagged proteins in order to implement site-specific, covalent protein immobilization into microstructures. The functional integrity of the immobilized protein was confirmed by monitoring protein-protein interactions in real time. Moreover, we demonstrate quantitative single-molecule analysis of protein-protein interactions with proteins selectively captured into these high-contrast micropatterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coenzyme A / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Histidine / chemistry
  • Histidine / genetics
  • Histidine / metabolism
  • Immobilized Proteins / chemistry
  • Interferon-alpha / chemistry
  • Maleimides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / genetics
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • His-His-His-His-His-His
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Maleimides
  • Oligopeptides
  • Proteins
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • maleimide
  • Histidine
  • Coenzyme A