Labeling proteins on live mammalian cells using click chemistry

Nat Protoc. 2015 May;10(5):780-91. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2015.045. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

Abstract

We describe a protocol for the rapid labeling of cell-surface proteins in living mammalian cells using click chemistry. The labeling method is based on strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC) and strain-promoted inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition (SPIEDAC) reactions, in which noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) bearing ring-strained alkynes or alkenes react, respectively, with dyes containing azide or tetrazine groups. To introduce ncAAs site specifically into a protein of interest (POI), we use genetic code expansion technology. The protocol can be described as comprising two steps. In the first step, an Amber stop codon is introduced--by site-directed mutagenesis--at the desired site on the gene encoding the POI. This plasmid is then transfected into mammalian cells, along with another plasmid that encodes an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA (RS/tRNA) pair that is orthogonal to the host's translational machinery. In the presence of the ncAA, the orthogonal RS/tRNA pair specifically suppresses the Amber codon by incorporating the ncAA into the polypeptide chain of the POI. In the second step, the expressed POI is labeled with a suitably reactive dye derivative that is directly supplied to the growth medium. We provide a detailed protocol for using commercially available ncAAs and dyes for labeling the insulin receptor, and we discuss the optimal surface-labeling conditions and the limitations of labeling living mammalian cells. The protocol involves an initial cloning step that can take 4-7 d, followed by the described transfections and labeling reaction steps, which can take 3-4 d.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / genetics
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Azides / chemistry
  • Carbocyanines / chemistry
  • Click Chemistry / instrumentation
  • Click Chemistry / methods*
  • Codon, Terminator
  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mammals
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Receptor, Insulin / chemistry
  • Receptor, Insulin / genetics

Substances

  • Alexa Fluor 647
  • Alkynes
  • Amino Acids
  • Azides
  • Carbocyanines
  • Codon, Terminator
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Proteins
  • cyanine dye 5
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases