Tandem Affinity Purification of Protein Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells

Summary

We describe here a novel, robust, and efficient tandem affinity purification (TAP) method for the expression, isolation, and characterization of protein complexes from eukaryotic cells. This protocol could be utilized for the biochemical characterization of discrete complexes as well as the identification of novel interactors and post-translational modifications that regulate their function.

Abstract

The purification of active protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes is crucial for the characterization of enzymatic activities and de novo identification of novel subunits and post-translational modifications. Bacterial systems allow for the expression and purification of a wide variety of single polypeptides and protein complexes. However, this system does not enable the purification of protein subunits that contain post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation and acetylation), and the identification of novel regulatory subunits that are only present/expressed in the eukaryotic system. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel, robust, and efficient tandem affinity purification (TAP) method using STREP- and FLAG-tagged proteins that facilitates the purification of protein complexes with transiently or stably expressed epitope-tagged proteins from eukaryotic cells. This protocol can be applied to characterize protein complex functionality, to discover post-translational modifications on complex subunits, and to identify novel regulatory complex components by mass spectrometry. Notably, this TAP method can be applied to study protein complexes formed by eukaryotic or pathogenic (viral and bacterial) components, thus yielding a wide array of downstream experimental opportunities. We propose that researchers working with protein complexes could utilize this approach in many different ways.

Introduction

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are critical for the precise regulation of biological processes¹, and further studies on these PPIs can inform about their function². Several approaches have been devised for the study and characterization of PPIs as well as for the de novo identification of novel regulatory protein components. In 1989, Stanley Fields and colleagues reported the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay³. This approach allows for the unbiased and comprehensive identification of interactors (preys) for a defined protein of interest (bait) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addi....

Protocol

1. Plating Cells

1. One day prior to transfection, plate 3.5 x 10⁶ HEK293T cells in 10 mL of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% (v/v) penicillin/Streptomycin (10,000 U/ml stock) per 100 mm dish. Plate 3 - 5 100 mm dishes per experiment/condition to ensure sufficient protein recovery.
   ​NOTE: The number of plates has to be determined for each experiment/condition, which will rely on the expression levels and solubility of the protein complex of interest. Alternatively, if larger scale purification is needed, cell lines can be adapted to grow in suspensions in spinner fl....

Results

In this article, we demonstrate the applicability of the TAP method to the well-characterized CycT1-CDK9 complex (also known as P-TEFb kinase).

Plasmids encoding Cyclin T1-STREP (CycT1:S) and CDK9-FLAG (CDK9:F), or CDK9-STREP (CDK9:S) and Cyclin T1-FLAG (CycT1:F) (Table 1), were transfected into HEK293T cells. Negative controls included transfections with an empty vector and the CDK9:F or CycT1:F plasmids (

Discussion

The protocol described here for the expression and isolation of protein complexes from eukaryotic cells is not limited to the biochemical characterization of such molecular assemblies, but can also be utilized for the identification of novel interactors and post-translational modifications that could regulate their function. The utilization of affinity tags is not restricted to what is mentioned in this protocol; but our experience suggests that using STREP as the first AP step significantly enhances the yield of the fin.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)	GE Healthcare Life Sciences/Hyclone	SH3002.2FS
Fetal bovine serum	GE Healthcare Life Sciences/Hyclone	SH30071
Penicillin/Streptomycin	MP Biomedicals	MP091670049
PolyJet	SignaGen Laboratories	SL100688
Protease inhibitor cocktail	Roche	11836153001
STREP-Tactin Superflow	IBA Lifesciences	2-1208-010
STREP-tag elution buffer	IBA Lifesciences	2-1000-025
EZview Red ANTI-FLAG M2 Affinity Gel	Sigma-Aldrich	F2426
Corning 100 mm × 20 mm style dish cell culture treated nonpyrogenic polystyrene 20/sleeve	Corning	430167
Protein Lo-Bind Eppendorf	Eppendorf	022431081
Digital Vortex Mixer	Fisher Scientific	02-215-370
48 hole micro tube foam rack	Fisher Scientific	02-215-386
Labquake shaker rotisserie	Thermo	415110