Name: Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2017-05-18T13:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 9 min 29 s
Description: Learn to isolate intermediate filament proteins from multiple mouse tissues using automated lysis and sequential extraction. This method enables high-throughput analysis of aging-associated post-translational modifications by mass spectrometry.

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5 minutes

This work was supported by the NIH grants NIH R01 DK110355,&#160;DK093776 [N.T.S.], DK102450 [N.T.S.], and P30 DK034987 [to UNC-Chapel Hill]. The authors thank Deekshita Ramanarayanan for assistance with qPCR and western blot experiments.

The protocol is approved and performed in accordance with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the University of North Carolina.
1. Preparations
<ol>
	<li>Prepare Triton-X buffer (1% Triton X-100, 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), bring up volume in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4). To make 500 mL: stir 5 mL each of Triton X-100 and 500 mM EDTA into 490 mL of PBS, pH 7.4. Store Triton-X buffer solution at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prepare High Salt Buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 140 mM NaCl, 1.5 M KCl, 5 mM EDTA, 0.5% Triton X-100, bring up volume in double distilled (dd) H2O). To make 500 mL: stir 10 mL of 0.5 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 14 mL of 5 M NaCl, 55.9 g KCl, 5 mL of 0.5 M EDTA, and 2.5 mL of Triton X-100, adjust volume to 500 mL using double distilled water). Store High Salt Buffer solution at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Just prior to use, supplement an appropriate amount of Triton-X and High Salt Buffer (e.g. 1 mL for each 25 mg tissue sample) with a protease or protease/phosphatase inhibitor cocktail and discard any unused buffer containing the inhibitors.</li>
	<li>Prepare 5 mM EDTA in 1x PBS, pH 7.4. To make 500 mL: stir 5 mL of 0.5 M EDTA into 495 mL of 1x PBS, pH 7.4.</li>
	<li>Isolate different mouse organs (brain, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, colon, intestine, kidney, spleen) using approved protocols that comply with veterinary guidelines and institutional standards23. The tissue collection procedure should take no more than 5 min to preserve RNA and protein integrity of protease-rich tissues (e.g. pancreas should be processed first).</li>
	<li>Cut a small amount of tissue (~5-20 mg) and place in RNA storage solution, for subsequent RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis for IF gene expression. Place RNA storage solution tubes with tissue at 4 &#176;C overnight and follow manufacturer protocol for further storage and isolation steps.</li>
	<li>Cut the rest of the tissue into smaller fragments (e.g. 0.5 cm) and place in cryovial. Snap-freeze and store vials at -80 &#176;C or liquid nitrogen for longer term storage.</li>
</ol>
2. IF Gene Expression Analysis
<ol>
	<li>Extract RNA from tissues preserved in the RNA storage solution reagent. Use any suitable/preferred RNA extraction method according to manufacturer&#39;s protocol.</li>
	<li>Quantify RNA concentration and use 2 &#956;g of RNA to generate cDNA using a suitable reverse transcription kit according to manufacturer&#39;s protocol.</li>
	<li>Using the generated cDNA and mouse IF gene-specific primers set up qPCR reactions, including three technical replicates of each sample as well as blank control according to manufacturer&#39;s protocol.</li>
	<li>Quantify IF gene expression as fold change comparing different conditions (e.g. young versus old tissue).</li>
</ol>
3. Preparation of Total Tissue Lysates for Immunoblot
<ol>
	<li>Homogenize 25 mg of tissue in 1 mL of 2x non-reducing SDS sample buffer. Omit bromophenol blue dye from the sample buffer if a colorimetric protein assay is to be performed to quantify protein concentration.</li>
	<li>Add 5% (v/v) of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) to make reduced samples. To 200 &#956;L of the non-reducing samples, add 10 &#956;L of 2-ME.</li>
	<li>Determine protein concentration using detergent- and reducing agent-compatible protein assay. If dye is already included in the sample buffer, the protein amount can be estimated after running a gel via a number of techniques, including Coomassie-based stain24.</li>
	<li>Vortex all samples and heat at 95 &#176;C for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Perform western blotting under both reducing and non-reducing conditions. Exposure membrane briefly (&#60;1 min) to reveals monomeric species, and longer (&#62;1 min) to reveal high molecular mass complexes containing IF proteins. If monitoring aggregation, examine entire gel/membrane (including the bottoms of the gel wells).</li>
	<li>Run a parallel gel and stain with a protein stain as a loading control24. In disease models or injury experiments total protein stain should be used as a loading control, as opposed to immunoblots for &#39;housekeeping&#39; proteins (e.g. actin, GAPDH) because the latter change under different stress conditions.</li>
</ol>
4. Preparation of Detergent-soluble and High-salt Extracts of Tissue-specific IFs
<ol>
	<li>Add 1 mL of ice-cold Triton X-100 buffer into a glass tube homogenizer and place it on ice.</li>
	<li>Remove a small piece of tissue (~25 mg) from liquid nitrogen storage and place directly into the glass homogenizer. Use a polytetrafluoroethylene pestle to homogenize (50 strokes) and avoid making bubbles. Keep the homogenizer and lysate cold at all times.</li>
	<li>Transfer lysate to a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube on ice and centrifuge at 20,000 x g for 10 min in a pre-chilled centrifuge (4 &#176;C).</li>
	<li>Collect the supernatant fraction into a separate tube. This is the Triton X-soluble fraction, which can be used for immunoprecipitation (i.p.) and analysis of the detergent-soluble pool of IF proteins. Note that steps 4.1-4.4 may be repeated to achieve a cleaner IF extract from brain tissue.</li>
	<li>Add 1 mL of High Salt Buffer to the tissue pellet, transfer to a clean homogenizer and dounce 100 strokes. Transfer the homogenate back to the microcentrifuge tube and place the tube on a rotating shaker in the cold room for 1 h.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the homogenates at 20,000 x g for 20 min at 4 &#176;C. Discard the supernatant.</li>
	<li>Add 1 mL of ice-cold PBS/EDTA buffer to the pellet and homogenize the pellet (20 strokes) in a clean homogenizer as a final clean-up step*. Transfer to a new tube and centrifuge at 20,000 x g for 10 min at 4 &#176;C to obtain the IF protein-rich high salt extract (HSE). 
	* Optionally, vortex instead of homogenization at this step.</li>
	<li>Discard the supernatant and dissolve the pellets in 300 &#956;L of non-reducing SDS sample buffer that has been pre-heated. Break up the pellet initially by pipetting and vortexing, and then heat the samples for 5 min at 95 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Vortex and pipet as needed to ensure the pellet is dissolved. It may take several minutes to fully dissolve the pellets.</li>
	<li>Store all samples at -20 &#176;C until analysis.</li>
</ol>
5. Automated Tissue Lysis for IF Protein Extraction in High-volume Experiments
<ol>
	<li>For RNA extraction, place lysis buffer (600 &#956;L buffer per 25 mg of tissue) in a tube containing lysing matrix D (uses small ceramic spheres) and pulse twice for 25 s in the tissue lyser. Separate lysate from the matrix by centrifugation at 20,000 x g and proceed to the next step in isolation.</li>
	<li>For protein extraction, place Triton X-100 (or SDS sample buffer if preparing total lysate) in a lysing tube with lysing matrix SS (use a single stainless steel bead). After testing multiple matrices, this was selected because it produces IF protein extracts that are in similar quality as the traditional douncing method. Note that the automated method is not optimal for pancreas and spleen, and the standard homogenization protocol should be used for these tissues.</li>
	<li>To proceed with preparation of High Salt Extract, remove the stainless steel bead from the tube using a magnet, and centrifuge the tubes at 20,000 x g for 10 min at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Continue with step 4.4 (above) of the manual protocol.</li>
	<li>Store all samples at -20 &#176;C until analysis.</li>
</ol>
6. Immuno-enrichment of Post-translationally Modified IF Proteins
<ol>
	<li>Prepare PBST buffer (0.02% Tween-20 in PBS). To make 50 mL, add 10 &#956;L of Tween-20 to 50 mL of PBS, pH 7.4.</li>
	<li>Prepare PTM antibody solution (1-10 &#956;g of antibody in 200 &#956;L of PBST). In general, 3 &#956;g of antibody/reaction is a good starting condition that can be further optimized if needed.</li>
	<li>For each reaction, aliquot 50 &#956;L of magnetic beads into a microcentrifuge tube, place on the magnet and aspirate the bead storage solution.</li>
	<li>Conjugate the beads to the immunoprecipitation antibody by re-suspending in the antibody solution and incubating on rotator (end-over-end, to ensure mixing of small volumes) at room temperature for 20 min.</li>
	<li>Place the tubes on magnet and aspirate antibody solution.</li>
	<li>Rinse the antibody-conjugated beads once in 200 &#956;L PBST and remove wash buffer.</li>
	<li>Add 0.6-1 mL of the tissue lysate to the beads, mix by gentle pipetting and incubate for 3 h on rotator in a cold room.</li>
	<li>Place tubes on magnet, remove lysate, and wash the beads five times with 200 &#956;L of PBST. After the last washing step, collect the beads in 100 &#956;L of PBS (no Tween-20) and transfer to a clean new tube. Place the tube on the magnet.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the PBS and add 100 &#956;L of non-reducing sample buffer. Remove 50 &#956;L and add 2-ME (5%) to make reducing samples. Heat the samples to 95 &#176;C for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Separate the i.p. fraction from the beads on the magnet and collect it into a new tube.</li>
	<li>Store samples at -20 &#176;C until analysis.</li>
</ol>
7. Preparation of IF Protein Samples for Mass Spectrometry Analysis
<ol>
	<li>Schedule a consultation with a proteomics expert prior to initiating a study since there is significant time and cost involved with mass spectrometry analysis.</li>
	<li>Take special precautions to avoid contamination. Handle all gels with clean gloves and incubate in clean containers, washed only using ddH2O (avoid soap).</li>
	<li>Run 20-50 &#956;L of the HSE sample (from Sections 4 and 5) on an SDS-PAGE gel according to standard conditions.</li>
	<li>Stain with a protein stain for 1 h. Rinse multiple times and de-stain in ddH2O overnight. The IF protein bands should be easily visible after de-staining.</li>
	<li>Place the gel between plastic sheet protectors, scan and mark the bands that will be excised and sent for analysis.</li>
	<li>Excise the IF protein bands using a new clean razor.</li>
	<li>Place the gel bands in clean microcentrifuge tubes and transfer to a mass spectrometry facility.</li>
</ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Methods that enable biochemical characterization of IF proteins can be useful to understand numerous pathophysiological phenomena in mammalian systems, since IF proteins are both markers and modulators of cellular and tissue stress29. The principle behind the current method is based on the initial procedures developed in the 1970s and 1980s to isolate, separate and reconstitute IF proteins from cells and tissues, generally employing low and high salt solutions and Triton-X100 detergent<sup class="...

IFs are a family of proteins that in humans are encoded by 73 genes and categorized into six major types: types I-IV are cytoplasmic (e.g. epithelial and hair keratins (K), myocyte desmin, neurofilaments, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and others); type V are the nuclear lamins; and type VI are IFs in the eye lens1. In terms of their molecular organization, IF proteins have three common domains: a highly conserved coiled-coil &#34;rod&#34; domain, and globular &#34;head&#34; and &#34;tail&#34; domains. IF protein tetramers assemble to form short filament precursors, which are ultimately incorporated into mature filaments that shape dynamic cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal structures involved in mechanical protection2, stress sensing3,4, regulation of transcription5 and growth, and other critical cellular functions1,6,7.
The functional importance of the IF system is highlighted by the existence of many human diseases caused by missense mutations in IF genes, including neuropathies, myopathies, skin fragility disorders, metabolic dysfunctions, and premature aging syndromes8. Some IF gene mutations do not cause, but predispose their carriers to disease progression, such as the simple epithelial keratins in liver disease9. The latter is due to the critical stress-protective functions of IFs in epithelia. IFs in general are among the most abundant cellular proteins under basal conditions, but are further strongly induced during various types of stress10. For example, recent studies evaluating proteome-wide changes in the nematode C. elegans demonstrated that multiple IFs are highly upregulated and prone to aggregation during organismal aging11,12. Since maintenance of a proper IF structure is essential for cellular resistance to various forms of stress10, IF aggregation may also contribute to the functional decline during aging. However, organismal-level studies examining multiple mammalian IF proteins across different tissues undergoing stress are lacking.
IFs are highly dynamic structures that adapt to meet cellular demands. Keratins, for example, undergo a biosynthesis-independent cycling between soluble (non-filamentous) and insoluble (filamentous) protein pool13. Under normal physiologic conditions approximately 5% the total K8/K18 pool can be extracted in detergent-free buffer, in comparison to approximately 20% that can be solubilized in the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P-40, which is biochemically comparable to Triton-X10014,15. During mitosis there is a notable increase in the solubility of simple-type epithelial K8 and K1814, which is less apparent in epidermal keratins but more apparent in vimentin and other type III IF proteins15,16. Solubility properties of IF proteins are tightly regulated by phosphorylation, a key post-translational modification (PTM) for filament rearrangement and solubility17,18,19,20. Most IFs undergo extensive regulation by a number of PTMs at conserved sites, resulting in functional changes17.
The purpose of this method is to introduce investigators who are new to the IF field to biochemical extraction and analytical methods for the study of IF proteins across multiple mouse tissues. Specifically, we focus on isolation of IF proteins using a high-salt extraction method and assessment of changes in PTMs via mass-spectrometry and by PTM-targeting antibodies. These methods build upon previously published procedures21 but include modifications for extracting different IF protein types to uncover common mechanism for regulation across the IF family. For example, K8 acetylation at a specific lysine residue regulates filament organization, while hyperacetylation promotes K8 insolubility and aggregate formation22. Recent global proteomic profiling studies have additionally revealed that most tissue-specific IF proteins are also targets for acetylation and that most IF acetylation sites are confined to the highly conserved rod domain. This highlights the need for methods suitable for global profiling of the IF system. We also introduce a rapid method of isolating IF proteins from multiple tissues using automated homogenization in optimized lysing matrix. The resulting preparations are suitable for downstream PTM analysis via mass spectrometry and other methods.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Dynabeads Protein G</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>10009</td><td>immunoprecipitation beads</td></tr><tr><td>PBS</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>10010049</td><td>for buffers</td></tr><tr><td>Purelink RNA mini kit</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>12183018</td><td>RNA extraction from tissue</td></tr><tr><td>Purelink DNAse set</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>12185010A</td><td>on column DNA digestion</td></tr><tr><td>Dynamag-2</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>12321D</td><td>magnet for use with dynabeads</td></tr><tr><td>GelCode Blue Stain Reagent</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>24592</td><td>mass spectrometry-compatible gel stain</td></tr><tr><td>Pierce ECL Western Blotting Substrate</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>32106</td><td>for use in western blot</td></tr><tr><td>High Capacity cDNA reverse transcription kit</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>4368813</td><td>for use in gene expression analysis</td></tr><tr><td>Proflex 3 x 32-well PCR System</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>4484073</td><td>PCR system</td></tr><tr><td>PVDF transfer membrane&amp;nbsp;</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>88520</td><td>for western blot</td></tr><tr><td>Power Up SYBR master mix</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>A25778</td><td>for qPCR analysis</td></tr><tr><td>RNAlater</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>AM7020</td><td>solution for tissue storage prior to RNA isolation</td></tr><tr><td>Novex 4-20% Tris Glycine Gel</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>XP04205BOX</td><td>Precast protein gel</td></tr><tr><td>Anti-Keratin 8 antibody (TS1)</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>MA514428</td><td>for western blot detection of K8</td></tr><tr><td>Anti-Vimentin</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>MA511883</td><td>for western blot detection of vimentin</td></tr><tr><td>Tris Glycine Transfer Buffer (25x)</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>LC3675</td><td>for wet transfer of protein gels</td></tr><tr><td>2x SDS Sample Buffer</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>LC2676</td><td>for preparing protein gel samples</td></tr><tr><td>Tris Glycine SDS Running Buffer (10x)</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>LC26755</td><td>for running protein gels</td></tr><tr><td>Lysing beads - Matrix D</td><td>MP Biomedicals</td><td>116913100</td><td>Lysis beads and matrix tubes for tissue disruption and RNA extraction</td></tr><tr><td>Lysing beads - Matrix SS</td><td>MP Biomedicals</td><td>116921100</td><td>Lysis beads and matrix tubes for tissue disruption and protein extraction</td></tr><tr><td>NanoDrop Lite Spectrophotometer</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>ND-LITE</td><td>measurement of protein and nucleic acid</td></tr><tr><td>Precellys 24 homogenizer</td><td>Bertin Instruments</td><td>EQ03119</td><td>Automated tissue homogenizer</td></tr></tbody></table>

isolation of intermediate filament proteins from multiple mouse tissues to study aging-associated post-translational modifications

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications

Intermediate filaments (IFs), together with actin filaments and microtubules, form the cytoskeleton &#8211; a critical structural element of every cell. Normal functioning IFs provide cells with mechanical and stress resilience, while a dysfunctional IF cytoskeleton compromises cellular health and has been associated with many human diseases. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) critically regulate IF dynamics in response to physiological changes and under stress conditions. Therefore, the ability to monitor changes in the PTM signature of IFs can contribute to a better functional understanding, and ultimately conditioning, of the IF system as a stress responder during cellular injury. However, the large number of IF proteins, which are encoded by over 70 individual genes and expressed in a tissue-dependent manner, is a major challenge in sorting out the relative importance of different PTMs. To that end, methods that enable monitoring of PTMs on IF proteins on an organism-wide level, rather than for isolated members of the family, can accelerate research progress in this area. Here, we present biochemical methods for the isolation of the total, detergent-soluble, and detergent-resistant fraction of IF proteins from 9 different mouse tissues (brain, heart, lung, liver, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, kidney, and spleen). We further demonstrate an optimized protocol for rapid isolation of IF proteins by using lysing matrix and automated homogenization of different mouse tissues. The automated protocol is useful for profiling IFs in experiments with high sample volume (such as in disease models involving multiple animals and experimental groups). The resulting samples can be utilized for various downstream analyses, including mass spectrometry-based PTM profiling. Utilizing these methods, we provide new data to show that IF proteins in different mouse tissues (brain and liver) undergo parallel changes with respect to their expression levels and PTMs during aging.

A new rapid method for high salt-based extraction of IF proteins from multiple mouse tissues using lysing matrix. 
The traditional method25,26 of isolating the bulk of the intermediate filament protein fraction from epithelial tissue was modified here to include 9 different organs and a more rapid procedure for tiss...

In this method, we present biochemical procedures for rapid and efficient isolation of intermediate filament (IF) proteins from multiple mouse tissues. Isolated IFs can be used to study changes in post-translational modifications by mass spectrometry and other biochemical assays.

Intermediate filaments (IFs), together with actin filaments and microtubules, form the cytoskeleton &#8211; a critical structural element of every cell. ...

The overall goal of this biochemical procedure is to isolate intermediate filament enriched fractions from multiple mouse tissues in order to study post translational modifications of the different tissue specific intermediate filament proteins. This method can help to answer key questions in the intermediate filament field such as how the function and regulation of these important stress protective cytoskeletal proteins is affected during mammalian aging. The main advantage of this technique is that incorporating an automated tissue lysis step allows users to process multiple tissue samples in a rapid and efficient manner.To begin, add one milliliter of ice cold Triton X-100 buffer supplemented with protease inhibitors into a glass tube homogenizer and place it on ice. Remove a small piece of tissue from liquid nitrogen storage and place it directly into the glass homogenizer. Then while keeping the homogenizer and sample on ice at all times, use approximately 50 strokes of a polytetrafluoroethylene pastille to homogenize the sample while minimizing the formation of bubbles.Transfer the lysate to a 1.5 milliliter microcentrifuge tube on ice, and centrifuge the sample at 20, 000 times G in four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Next, collect the Triton X soluble supernatant fraction into a separate tube. This fraction can be used for immuno precipitation and analysis of the detergent soluble pool of IF proteins.Then, to the tissue pellet add one milliliter of high salt buffer supplemented with protease inhibitors. Transfer it to a clean homogenizer, and dounce 100 strokes. Transfer the homogenate back to the microcentrifuge tube and place the tube on a rotating shaker in the cold room for one hour.Centrifuge the homogenates at 20, 000 times G in four degrees Celsius for 20 minutes and discard the supernatant. Add one milliliter of ice cold PBS EDTA buffer to the pellet and transfer it to a clean homogenizer as a final cleanup step. After homogenization, transfer the sample to a new tube and centrifuge it at 20, 000 times G in four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes to obtain the IF protein rich high salt extract, or HSC.Discard the supernatant and dissolve the pellet in 300 microliters of preheated non-reducing SDS sample buffer. Break up the pellet initially by pipetting and vortexing. And then heat the samples at 95 degrees Celsius for five minutes.Vortex and pipette as needed, to ensure the pellet is fully dissolved which may take several minutes. Store all samples at negative 20 degrees Celsius until analysis. To carry out RNA extraction, add lysis buffer in a tube containing lysine matrix D, then add the sample tissue to the tissue lyser and pulse twice for 25 seconds each.Separate the lysate from the matrix by centrifugation at 20, 000 times G.For protein extraction, add Triton X-100 or SDS sample buffer if preparing total lysate. Into a lysine tube with lysine matrix SS.Then, add the sample tissue. Pulse the sample briefly to mix.To prepare HSC, use a magnet to remove the stainless steel bead from the tube, and centrifuge the tubes at 20, 000 times G in four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Separate the supernatant and pellet fractions and proceed as demonstrated earlier in the video. Prepare PBST buffer by adding 10 microliters of T20 to 50 milliliters of PBS pH 7.4.Then prepare PTM antibody solution by adding one to 10 micrograms of antibody to 200 microliters of PBST. Aliquot 50 microliters of magnetic beads into a micro centrifuge tube. Place it on the magnet, and aspirate the bead storage solution.Conjugate the beads to the immunoprecipitation antibody by resuspending the beads in the antibody solution and incubating the sample on a rotator at room temperature for 20 minutes. Place the tubes on the magnet, and aspirate the antibody solution. Then use 200 microliters of PBST to rinse the antibody conjugated beads once, and remove the solution.Add 0.6 to one milliliter of the tissue lysate to the beads. Mix by gently pipetting, and incubate the solution on a rotator in a cold room for three hours. Place the tubes on the magnet and remove the lysate, then use 200 microliters of PBST to wash the beads five times.After the last washing step, collect the beads and 100 microliters of PBS and transfer the beads to a new, clean tube. Place the tube on the magnet, then aspirate the PBS. Remove the tube from the magnet and add 100 microliters of non-reducing sample buffer.Aliquot 50 microliters from the tube, and combine it with 5%2ME to make reducing samples. Heat the samples to 95 degrees Celsius for five minutes. With the tube on the magnet, collect the IP fraction from the beads, and transfer it into a fresh tube.Store the samples at negative 20 degrees Celsius until analysis. To avoid contamination of protein samples for mass spectrometry analysis, use clean gloves to handle all gels and incubate them in clean containers that have been only washed with DD H2O. Run 20 to 50 microliters of the HSE sample on an SDS page gel according to standard conditions.After staining the gel according to the text protocol, place the gel between plastic sheet protectors. Then scan and mark the bands that will be excised. Use a new, clean razor to excise the IF protein bands and place the bands in clean microcentrifuge tubes on ice before submitting them for mass spectrometry analysis.This figure shows a typical result of HSEs from nine mouse tissues isolated using the rapid method. Note that this method does not work well on the pancreas and spleen, and yields additional bands in a large intestine sample. This gene expression analysis shows the Keratin 8 is up regulated during aging.In addition, western blots show that Keratin 8 is strongly up regulated in the livers of old mice. Here, a liver HSE obtained using the automated protocol demonstrates the strong enrichment of Keratins 8 and 18 on the gel. Mass spectrometry analysis shows that K8 and K18 in the liver from an old mouse have multiple phosphorylation and acetylation sites that are not present in the liver from the young mouse.Similar to keratin changes in the liver, analysis of brain tissue by QPCR reveals a five fold induction of GFAP mRNA in the brains of 24 month old compared to three month old mice. Finally, protein analysis of the high salt extracts by Coomassie stain, and immuno blots of total and acetyl lysine enriched fractions reveals that GFAP protein is up regulated and acetylated in the aged mouse brain. Following this procedure, other methods such as mass spectrometry based proteo mix can be used to answer additional questions such as what are the important post translational modifications and binding partners of intermediate filament proteins during different physiological and pathophysiological conditions.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to isolate intermediate filament proteins from different mammalian tissues.

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Learn to isolate intermediate filament proteins from multiple mouse tissues using automated lysis and sequential extraction. This method enables high-throughput analysis of aging-associated post-translational modifications by mass spectrometry.

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications (Video) | JoVE Journal

Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications

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