Noncovalent, site-specific biotinylation of histidine-tagged proteins

Anal Chem. 2007 Nov 15;79(22):8590-600. doi: 10.1021/ac0714922. Epub 2007 Oct 23.

Abstract

Site-specific conjugation of proteins to surfaces, spectroscopic probes, or other functional units is a key task for implementing biochemical assays. The streptavidin-biotin interaction has proven a highly versatile tool for detection, quantification, and functional analysis of proteins. We have developed an approach for site-specific reversible biotinylation of recombinant proteins through their histidine tag using biotin conjugated to the multivalent chelator trisnitrilotriacetic acid (BTtris-NTA). Stable binding of BTtris-NTA to His-tagged proteins was demonstrated, which is readily reversed by addition of imidazole, enabling versatile conjugation schemes in solution as well as at interfaces. Gel filtration experiments revealed that His-tagged proteins bind to streptavidin doped with BTtris-NTA in a 2:1 stoichiometry. Furthermore, an increased binding affinity toward His-tagged proteins was observed for BTtris-NTA linked to streptavidin compared to tris-NTA in solution and on surfaces. These results indicate an efficient cooperative interaction of two adjacent tris-NTA moieties with a single His-tag, yielding an extremely tight complex with a lifetime of several days. We demonstrate several applications of BTtris-NTA including multiplexed capturing of proteins to biosensor surfaces, cell surface labeling, and Western blot detection. The remarkable selectivity of the His-tag-specific biotinylation, as well as the highly stable, yet reversible complex provides the basis for numerous further applications for functional protein analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biotinylation*
  • Carrier Proteins / analysis*
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Histidine / analysis*
  • Histidine / chemistry*
  • Histidine / genetics
  • Histidine / metabolism
  • Maltose-Binding Proteins
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitrilotriacetic Acid / chemistry
  • Protein Array Analysis
  • Protein Binding
  • Solutions
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Maltose-Binding Proteins
  • Solutions
  • Histidine
  • Nitrilotriacetic Acid