Stabilizing labile DNA-protein complexes in polyacrylamide gels. 2010

Nina Y Sidorova, and Stevephen Hung, and Donald C Rau
Laboratory of Physical and Structural Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. sidorova@mail.nih.gov

The electrophoretic mobility-shift assay (EMSA) is one of the most popular tools in molecular biology for measuring DNA-protein interactions. EMSA, as standardly practiced today, works well for complexes with association binding constants K(a)>10(9) M(-1) under normal conditions of salt and pH. Many DNA-protein complexes are not stable enough so that they dissociate while moving through the gel matrix giving smeared bands that are difficult to quantitate reliably. In this work we demonstrate that the addition of the osmolyte triethylene glycol to polyacrylamide gels dramatically stabilizes labile restriction endonuclease EcoRI complexes with nonspecific DNA sequences enabling quantitation of binding using EMSA. The significant improvement of the technique resulting from the addition of osmolytes to the gel matrix greatly extends the range of binding constants of protein-DNA complexes that can be investigated using this widely used assay. Extension of this approach to other techniques used for separating bound and free components such as gel chromatography and CE is straightforward.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011092 Polyethylene Glycols Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS. Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004268 DNA-Binding Proteins Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases. DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D004591 Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGE,Gel Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide,SDS PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGEs
D005990 Glycerol A trihydroxy sugar alcohol that is an intermediate in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It is used as a solvent, emollient, pharmaceutical agent, or sweetening agent. 1,2,3-Propanetriol,Glycerin,1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane,Glycerine
D015246 Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI One of the Type II site-specific deoxyribonucleases (EC 3.1.21.4). It recognizes and cleaves the sequence G/AATTC at the slash. EcoRI is from E coliRY13. Several isoschizomers have been identified. EC 3.1.21.-. DNA Restriction Enzyme EcoRI,Deoxyribonuclease SsoI,Endonuclease EcoRI,Eco RI,Eco-RI,EcoRI Endonuclease,Endodeoxyribonuclease ECoRI,Endodeoxyribonuclease HsaI,Endonuclease Eco159I,Endonuclease Eco82I,Endonuclease RsrI,Endonuclease SsoI,HsaI Endonuclease,Restriction Endonuclease RsrI
D046911 Macromolecular Substances Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure. Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular
D055550 Protein Stability The ability of a protein to retain its structural conformation or its activity when subjected to physical or chemical manipulations. Protein Stabilities,Stabilities, Protein,Stability, Protein
D024202 Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay An electrophoretic technique for assaying the binding of one compound to another. Typically one compound is labeled to follow its mobility during electrophoresis. If the labeled compound is bound by the other compound, then the mobility of the labeled compound through the electrophoretic medium will be retarded. Gelshift Analysis,Mobility Shift Assay,Band Shift Mobility Assay,Bandshift Mobility Assay,EMSA Electrophoretic Technique,Gel Retardation Assay,Gel Shift Analysis,Supershift Mobility Assay,Analyses, Gel Shift,Analysis, Gel Shift,Assay, Bandshift Mobility,Assay, Gel Retardation,Assay, Mobility Shift,Assay, Supershift Mobility,Assays, Bandshift Mobility,Assays, Gel Retardation,Assays, Mobility Shift,Assays, Supershift Mobility,Bandshift Mobility Assays,EMSA Electrophoretic Techniques,Electrophoretic Technique, EMSA,Electrophoretic Techniques, EMSA,Gel Retardation Assays,Gel Shift Analyses,Mobility Assay, Bandshift,Mobility Assay, Supershift,Mobility Assays, Bandshift,Mobility Assays, Supershift,Mobility Shift Assays,Supershift Mobility Assays,Technique, EMSA Electrophoretic,Techniques, EMSA Electrophoretic

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