Using FRET-based Measurements of Protein Complexes to Determine Stoichiometry with the Job Plot

Introduction

Measurement of stoichiometry is important for understanding biochemical reactions since these reactions are dependent on the interaction of at least 2 cellular components. Measuring these interactions has been limited to approaches that are useful for observing large molecular weight changes such as size-exclusion chromatography. Furthermore, these approaches require a large amount of purified cellular components.

With these limitations in mind, we sought to provide a platform where protein-protein interactions could be observed. Herein we describe an adaptation of the Job plot¹. Our approach uses a microplate reader, which was used to read FRET and relevant acceptor and donor control intensities. Using a microplate reader enables the use of small sample volumes (40 μl) in 384-well plates. Furthermore, 4 separate interactions can be studied on an individual plate.

Assay Principle

A key factor of the Job plot also called the continuous variation method, is that the total concentration of the 2 molecules is held constant². It is the ratio of the 2 molecules that is changed. An observable parameter that is proportional to complex formation is employed, in this case, FRET between the labelled proteins. Figure 1 depicts the expected assay results for a 1:1 protein-protein interaction.

In the conditions where 100% donor labelled protein are present there is no FRET signal as the ratio shifts to larger amounts of acceptor the FRET signal increases until maximum FRET is obtained. Maximum FRET will indicate the stoichiometry of the interaction. Continued changes in the ratio toward a greater acceptor will be associated with a decrease in FRET until zero FRET is again seen with 100% acceptor labelled protein.

Materials & Methods

• Black 384-well microplates (Corning)
• BMG LABTECH CLARIOstar
• For a complete list of reagents and procedures please refer to Mattiroli et al.¹

Experimental Procedure
Stock solutions with a 1 μM concentration were prepared for each protein, both labelled and unlabeled. Further dilution of these stocks was created such that diluted stocks have 2X concentration needed for the well reactions. Final well reactions are created by combining 20 µl each of the appropriate diluted stocks for proteins 1 and 2. This can be done according to the scheme depicted in Figure 2.

Instrument settings
Because of the multichromatic nature of the test performed appropriate setting of the gain for each chromatic was an important consideration. To measure the acceptor fluorescence gain was set using a sample with the highest acceptor dye and no donor, for example, well P3. Similarly, gain for donor fluorescence measurement was set on well with highest donor dye and no acceptor dye, such as well D1. For FRET measurement plate is first read and the well with max FRET signal is found. This well is used to perform the gain adjustment.

Results & Discussion

As proof of principle, we first looked at the interaction between histone binding protein and histone H3-H4. In the layout described in figure 2 histone binding protein is protein 1 and H3-H4 is protein 2. Figure 3 show the expected 1:1 binding interaction.

Figure 4 shows the results of 2 additional protein interaction tests. As you can see one of the interactions also exhibits a 1:1 stoichiometry while the other is an example of a 2:1 interaction stoichiometry.

Conclusion

The Job plot to assess protein-protein interaction stoichiometry has been successfully adapted to a microplate reader-based system. This enables both miniaturizations to save on protein components and improved throughput, up to 4 protein pairs can be studied in one 384-well plate.

References

1. Mattiroli, F. et al. FRET-based Stoichiometry Measurements of Protein Complexes in vitro. Bio. Protoc. (2018) 8: e2713. DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.2713.
2. Huang, C.Y. Determination of Binding Stoichiometry by the Continuous Variation Method: The Job Plot. Methods Enzymol. (1982) 87: 509-525.