Tracking down protein-protein interactions via a FRET-system using site-specific thiol-labeling

Org Biomol Chem. 2018 Aug 15;16(32):5756-5763. doi: 10.1039/c8ob00742j.

Abstract

Förster resonance energy transfer is among the most popular tools to follow protein-protein interactions. Although limited to certain cases, site-specific fluorescent labeling of proteins via natural functions by means of chemical manipulations can redeem laborious protein engineering techniques. Herein we report on the synthesis of a heterobifunctional tag and its use in site-specific protein labeling studies aiming at exploring protein-protein interactions. The oxadiazole-methylsulfonyl functionality serves as a thiol specific warhead that enables easy and selective installation of fluorescent labels through a bioorthogonal motif. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK14) and its substrate mitogen activated protein kinase activated kinase (MAPKAP2) or its docking motif, a 22 amino acid-long peptide fragment, were labeled with a donor and an acceptor, respectively. Evolution of strong FRET signals upon protein-protein interactions supported the specific communication between the partners. Using an efficient FRET pair allowed the estimation of dissociation constants for protein-protein and peptide-protein interactions (145 nM and 240 nM, respectively).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 / chemistry*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • MAP-kinase-activated kinase 2
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14