Membrane-SPINE: A Biochemical Tool to Identify Protein-protein Interactions of Membrane Proteins In Vivo

Summary

A biochemical approach is described to identify in vivo protein-protein interactions (PPI) of membrane proteins. The method combines protein cross-linking, affinity purification and mass spectrometry, and is adaptable to almost any cell type or organism. With this approach, even the identification of transient PPIs becomes possible.

Abstract

Membrane proteins are essential for cell viability and are therefore important therapeutic targets^1-3. Since they function in complexes⁴, methods to identify and characterize their interactions are necessary⁵. To this end, we developed the Membrane Strep-protein interaction experiment, called Membrane-SPINE⁶. This technique combines in vivo cross-linking using the reversible cross-linker formaldehyde with affinity purification of a Strep-tagged membrane bait protein. During the procedure, cross-linked prey proteins are co-purified with the membrane bait protein and subsequently separated by boiling. Hence, two major tasks can be executed when analyzing protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of membrane proteins using Membrane-SPINE: first, the confirmation of a proposed interaction partner by immunoblotting, and second, the identification of new interaction partners by mass spectrometry analysis. Moreover, even low affinity, transient PPIs are detectable by this technique. Finally, Membrane-SPINE is adaptable to almost any cell type, making it applicable as a powerful screening tool to identify PPIs of membrane proteins.

Introduction

To understand the function of a protein it is essential to know its interaction partners. Several classical techniques are available for the identification of interaction partners of soluble proteins. However, these techniques are not easily transferable to membrane proteins due to their hydrophobic nature⁴. To overcome this limitation, we have developed the Membrane Strep-protein interaction experiment (Membrane-SPINE)⁶. It is based on the SPINE method, which was only suitable for soluble proteins⁷.

Membrane-SPINE benefits from two advantages of the cross-linking agent formaldehyde: first, formaldehyde can easily penetrate membranes and therefore generates a precise snapshot of the interactome of a living cell⁸. Second, formaldehyde cross-links can be reversed by boiling⁹. Here, these two advantages are used to identify not only permanent but also transient PPIs of membrane proteins⁶.

In brief, a Strep-tag is fused to the C-terminus of the integral membrane bait protein. Cells expressing the membrane bait protein are incubated with formaldehyde which cross-links prey proteins to the membrane bait protein (Figure 1). Modifications of prey proteins are not needed. Next, the membrane fraction is prepared. Therefore, membrane proteins are solubilized by detergent treatment and bait proteins are co-purified with its prey proteins using affinity purification. Subsequently, the cross-link is reversed by boiling, and the bait and its co-eluted prey proteins are separated by SDS-PAGE. Finally, prey proteins can be identified by immunoblot analysis or mass spectrometry.

Protocol

Note: Detailed information regarding buffers indicated in the protocol is available in Table 1.

1. Fixation of Protein-protein Interactions by Formaldehyde Cross-linking in Living Cells

1. To begin prepare growth media, stock solutions and buffer P1
   1. Prepare 500 ml medium: The medium should provide conditions that support the interaction between membrane bait protein and prey proteins. In addition, one experiment should be performed under conditions where no interaction is expected (e.g. without cross-linking).
      Note: We compare protein-protein interactions in stressed and non-stressed bacteria. Therefore, we prepare 500 ml Luria Bertani (LB) medium (Table 1) that we complement with a stress-inducing agent (e.g. 0.5 M NaCl) in a 2 L Erlenmeyer flask. For control, we use normal LB medium with 0.17 M NaCl (pH 7.0).
   2. Prepare Tris-buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl; pH 8.0) and 0.1 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), pH 8.0 stock solution (Table 1).
   3. Prepare buffer P1. Dissolve sucrose to a final concentration of 0.5 M in Tris-buffer. Sterilize buffer P1 by filtration and store it at 4 °C.
2. Grow cells expressing the membrane bait protein with a C-terminal Strep-tag fusion from a vector. Induce the expression of membrane bait proteins for a sufficient time.
   Note: We induce the expression of bacterial membrane bait proteins at early-log phase (A₆₀₀ = 0.3) by addition of 250 µl 1 M isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to 500 ml medium (final concentration: 0.5 mM). To allow sufficient expression, we incubate the bacteria until the late-log phase (A₆₀₀ = 1.2).
3. Prepare for each culture two centrifuge beakers with a minimum volume of 300 ml each and place them on ice.
4. Perform formaldehyde cross-linking.
   CAUTION: Formaldehyde is highly toxic. We recommend working under a safety fume hood.
   1. Transfer the culture vessel under a safety fume hood. Split each sample into two samples, one omitting cross-linking (- X) and one including the formaldehyde cross-linking (+ X). Add 4 ml 37% formaldehyde solution to 250 ml culture to reach a final concentration of 0.6%.
5. Transfer the culture vessels back and grow cells for further 20 min as before.
6. Fill your cultures into the centrifuge tubes under a safety fume hood. Collect cells by centrifugation at 3,000 x g for 30 min.
7. Discard supernatant by carefully pipetting it up under a safety fume hood. Collect toxic formaldehyde-containing supernatant and dispose of it properly.
8. In order to reach optimal yield during membrane protein preparation, prepare spheroplasts first. Here, we provide a protocol for spheroplast formation of Gram-negative bacteria:
   1. Prepare buffer P2 (Table 1) from lyophilized powder. Gently dissolve 2 mg lysozyme in 0.1 M EDTA, pH 8, in a 1.5 ml tube. Always prepare buffer P2 freshly for the day of the experiment.
   2. Prepare Tris-buffer with protease inhibitor (buffer P3). To 10 ml of Tris-buffer, add 0.1 ml 1 M phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF) (Table 1) to a final concentration of 10 mM. Use the buffer immediately, to ensure proper function of PMSF as protease inhibitor.
   3. Resuspend cell pellets in 10 ml Tris-buffer with protease inhibitor and transfer solution to a 15 ml conical tube.
   4. Add 1 ml buffer P2 and incubate on ice for 30 min.
   5. Collect spheroplasts by centrifugation at 3,000 x g for 30 min and discard supernatant carefully.
9. Incubate the spheroplast pellets overnight at -20°C.

2. Purification of Strep-tag Membrane Protein (Bait)

1. Place spheroplast pellet on ice.
2. During the time the spheroplast pellets thaw on ice, prepare 10 ml buffer P3 for each spheroplast preparation. Gently dissolve 1 mg DNaseI in 10 ml Tris-buffer. Add 0.1 ml 1 M PMSF just before use.
3. Resuspend the pellet in 6 ml freshly prepared P3. Sonicate the sample four times for 1 min continuously on ice with 1 min pause between each burst, in order to disrupt spheroplasts.
4. Centrifuge the sample at 10,000 x g for 10 min to harvest cell debris. Transfer the supernatant using a pipette to an ultracentrifuge tube.
5. Pellet the membrane fraction at 100,000 x g for 30 min. Wash the pellet carefully in Tris-buffer without dissolving it. Dry the tube with a paper tissue (e.g. Kleenex). Avoid disturbing the pellet at any time.
6. Resuspend the pellet (= membranes) carefully in 1 ml Tris-buffer. Use a 20 µl aliquot to determine the protein concentration by e.g. BCA assay. At this step, the membranes can be shock frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 °C.

3. Purification of Strep-tag Membrane Bait Protein and SDS-PAGE

1. Normalize the protein concentration of the membrane fraction to 5 mg/ml with Tris-buffer. Take 2.5 ml membrane fraction (5 mg/ml) in an ultracentrifuge tube and add 0.25 ml of 20% Triton X-100 to reach a final concentration of 2%, in order to solubilize the membrane proteins. Add a micro-magnetic rod and stir on ice for 1 hr.
   Note: Although in general we have good results using Triton X-100 as detergent, it might be useful to change the detergent for optimization. In this respect, we have best results with those detergents used for functional purification of the respective membrane bait protein.
2. While performing step 3.1, prepare 50 ml buffer W and 5 ml buffer E from (Table 1). Fill up 10 ml 5x buffer W concentrate to 50 ml and add 150 µl 20% Triton X-100.
   1. Fill up 1 ml 5x buffer E concentrate to 10 ml and add 30 µl 20% Triton X-100. Equilibrate a 1 ml Strep-Tactin superflow gravity flow column with 8 ml buffer W.
      Note: It is essential to add the detergent used for solubilization in a concentration 10-fold above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) in any buffer during the purification procedure.
3. Remove the micro-magnetic rod from the solubilization sample and ultracentrifuge at 100,000 x g for 30 min, to pellet the insoluble membrane fraction. Remove the supernatant using a pipette for further purification.
4. Load the supernatant to the column. Run the column only with gravity flow. Wash the column with 5 ml buffer W. Repeat this washing step 5x.
5. Elute membrane bait proteins with 1 ml buffer E. Repeat this elution step 4x.
6. Concentrate elution fractions 2, 3, and 4 to 300 µl with a centrifugal filter unit.
7. Mix 200 µl of each sample with 50 µl 5x SDS-PAGE loading dye. Split each preparation in 125 µl aliquots. Boil one aliquot of each preparation for 20 min at 95 °C, to reverse formaldehyde cross-links. Let samples cool down to RT for at least 10 min on bench top.
8. Load 30 µl from each sample to a single lane of a polyacrylamide-gel suitable for immunoblotting. Use a prestained molecular weight marker for best orientation and run SDS-PAGE¹⁰.

4. Immunoblot Analysis to Confirm Interaction Partners

1. Once step 3.8 is completed, transfer proteins to a nitrocellulose membrane by e.g. semidry.
2. Block the membrane to prevent unspecific labeling. Prepare blocking buffer by weighing bovine serum albumin (BSA) to achieve 3% weight per volume in Tris-buffered saline supplemented with final a concentration of 0.05% Tween-20 (TBS-T). Use a sufficient volume of blocking buffer to cover the membrane. Block the membrane for 1 hr at RT.
3. Dilute and incubate the prey protein specific first antibody as usual. Use an HRP-linked antibody as the second antibody.
4. Develop the immunoblot using a chemiluminescent detection kit with high sensitivity. Monitor the signal using a classical film processing procedure or digital imaging equipment.

5. NanoLC-ESI-MS/MS High Resolution Experiments to Identify Interaction Partners

1. In case that no specific antibody is available for the prey protein or unknown interaction partners should be identified, use mass spectrometry (MS) for identification. In order to prevent keratin contamination, use precasted gels for protein separation.
2. Silver stain the SDS-PAGE using a MS-compatible staining kit according to the manufacturer's protocol. Perform all staining and washing steps in glass tanks.
3. Excise respective bands and analyze these by high resolution LC/MS⁹.

Results

Membrane SPINE analysis allows the co-purification of membrane proteins and transiently interacting protein partners. The co-purification is achieved by using the cross-linking agent formaldehyde. Two parameters are critical to prevent unspecific cross-links: the formaldehyde concentration and the cross-linking time. The sufficient, but not excessive use of formaldehyde can easily be controlled by immunoblotting. Formaldehyde cross-linked protein complexes can be separated by boiling but not by SDS treatment. Hence, they...

Discussion

Membrane SPINE analysis is a biochemical approach that enables one to confirm and to identify to this point unknown interaction partners of membrane proteins. Membrane SPINE combines in vivo cross-linking by formaldehyde with purification of a Strep-tagged membrane bait protein. The combination with immunoblotting facilitates the confirmation of predicted interaction partners (Figure 2). Additionally, the combination with MS analysis permits the identification of unknown interaction partners (

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
37% Formaldehyde	Roth	4979.1	Should not be older than one year
DNaseI	Sigma	DN25
BCA protein assay kit	Pierce	23225
Micromagnetic rod	Roth	0955.2	5 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter
Triton X-100	Roth	6683.1	standard detergent for solubilization
n-Dodecyl-β-maltoside	Glycon	D97002-C	the best detergent to solubilze CpxA
1 ml Strep-Tactin superflow gravity flow column	IBA	2-1207-050
Strep-tag protein purification buffer set	IBA	2-1002-001	Contains buffer W and buffer E
Amicon Ultra-4 centrifugal filter	Millipore	UFC803024
SuperSignal West Pico Chemiluminescent substrate	Pierce	34080
SilverQuest Silverstaining kit	Invitrogen	LC6070
FireSilver Staining Kit	Proteome Factory	P-S-2001
Ultracentrifuge