Summary

Split-Ubiquitin Based Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (MYTH) System: A Powerful Tool For Identifying Protein-Protein Interactions

Published: February 01, 2010
doi:

Summary

MYTH allows the sensitive detection of transient and stable interactions between proteins that are expressed in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been successfully applied to study exogenous and yeast integral membrane proteins in order to identify their interacting partners in a high throughput manner.

Abstract

The fundamental biological and clinical importance of integral membrane proteins prompted the development of a yeast-based system for the high-throughput identification of protein-protein interactions (PPI) for full-length transmembrane proteins. To this end, our lab developed the split-ubiquitin based Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (MYTH) system. This technology allows for the sensitive detection of transient and stable protein interactions using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a host organism. MYTH takes advantage of the observation that ubiquitin can be separated into two stable moieties: the C-terminal half of yeast ubiquitin (Cub) and the N-terminal half of the ubiquitin moiety (Nub). In MYTH, this principle is adapted for use as a ‘sensor’ of protein-protein interactions. Briefly, the integral membrane bait protein is fused to Cub which is linked to an artificial transcription factor. Prey proteins, either in individual or library format, are fused to the Nub moiety. Protein interaction between the bait and prey leads to reconstitution of the ubiquitin moieties, forming a full-length ‘pseudo-ubiquitin’ molecule. This molecule is in turn recognized by cytosolic deubiquitinating enzymes, resulting in cleavage of the transcription factor, and subsequent induction of reporter gene expression. The system is highly adaptable, and is particularly well-suited to high-throughput screening. It has been successfully employed to investigate interactions using integral membrane proteins from both yeast and other organisms.

Protocol

1. Background Information Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are the fundamental building blocks involved in governing all cellular processes. Consequently, it is essential that all interactions are tightly regulated in order to maintain cellular homeostasis, as a shift in this biological equilibrium commonly plays a role in disease and cancer cell transformation. Membrane associated proteins are amongst the most biologically important class of proteins as they can initiate complex signaling c…

Discussion

MYTH is the first high throughput system that allows the identification of interactions between full-length membrane proteins and cytosolic or membrane-bound partners. It has been used to study membrane protein from a range of organisms [3-7]. There are, however, specific details that may need to be scrutinized to ensure the protein-of-interest is amenable to study with MYTH.

Many membrane-bound proteins are directed to the plasma membrane via a signal sequence that is subsequently cleaved to…

Divulgations

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dawn Edmonds for a critical reading of this manuscript. The Stagljar lab is supported by funds from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, and Novartis.

Materials

Material Name Type Company Catalogue Number Comment
Polyethenlene Glycol (PEG3350)   Bioshop PEG335  
Lithium Acetate Bihydrate   Bioshop LIA001  
X-Gal (5-Bromo-4-Chloro-3-Indolyl-b-D-galactopyranoside)   Bioshop XGA001  
N`,N-dimethyl formamide   Bioshop DMF 451  
3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT)   Bioshop ATT124  
Sodium phosphate dibasic   Bioshop SPD307  
Sodium phosphate monobasic   FisherBiotech BP329-500  
Salmon Sperm DNA   VWR CA80601-120  
D-Glucose   Bioshop GLU501  
LB Broth LENOX   Bioshop LBL405  
Yeast Nitrogen Base   Bioshop YNB406  
Yeast Extract   Bioshop YEX401  
Peptone   Beckton Dickinson 211677  
Bio-Tryptone   Bioshop TRP402  
Adenine Sulphate   Bioshop ADS201  
L-Uracil   Bioshop URA241  
L-Threonine   Bioshop THR002  
L-Histidine   Bioshop HIS200  
L-Methionine   Bioshop MET222  
L-Valine   Bioshop VAL201  
L-Phenylalanine   Bioshop PHA302  
L-Isoleucine   Bioshop ISO910  
L-Tyrosine   Bioshop TYR333  
L-Leucine   Bioshop LEU222  
L-Arginine   Bioshop ARG006  
L-Tryptophane   FisherBiotech BP395-100  
L-Lysine   Bioshop LYS101  
L-Alanine   FisherBiotech BP369-100  
Agar   Bioshop AGR001  
Soda Lime Galss Beads   BioSpec Product 11079105  
Sodium Chloride   Bioshop SLD002  

References

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Snider, J., Kittanakom, S., Curak, J., Stagljar, I. Split-Ubiquitin Based Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (MYTH) System: A Powerful Tool For Identifying Protein-Protein Interactions. J. Vis. Exp. (36), e1698, doi:10.3791/1698 (2010).

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