Rab-NANOPS: FRET biosensors for Rab membrane nanoclustering and prenylation detection in mammalian cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2015:1298:29-45. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2569-8_3.

Abstract

Rab proteins constitute the largest subfamily of Ras-like small GTPases. They are central to vesicular transport and organelle definition in eukaryotic cells. Unlike their Ras counterparts, they are not a hallmark of cancer. However, a number of diseases, including cancer, show a misregulation of Rab protein activity. As for all membrane-anchored signaling proteins, correct membrane organization is critical for Rabs to operate. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol for the use of a flow cytometry-based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-biosensors assay, which allows to detect changes in membrane anchorage, subcellular distribution, and of the nanoscale organization of Rab-GTPases in mammalian cell lines. This assay is high-throughput amenable and can therefore be utilized in chemical-genomic and drug discovery efforts.

MeSH terms

  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Animals
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cricetinae
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Protein Prenylation*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases
  • Rab geranylgeranyltransferase
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins