MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics

Here, we present a MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST)–based assay for in vitro assessment of actin polymerization. By monitoring the thermophoretic behavior of ATTO488-labeled actin in a temperature gradient over time, we could follow polymerization in real time and resolve its three characteristic pha...

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Main Authors: Andrea Topf, Peter Franz, Georgios Tsiavaliaris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-10-01
Series:BioTechniques
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114599
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author Andrea Topf
Peter Franz
Georgios Tsiavaliaris
author_facet Andrea Topf
Peter Franz
Georgios Tsiavaliaris
author_sort Andrea Topf
collection DOAJ
description Here, we present a MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST)–based assay for in vitro assessment of actin polymerization. By monitoring the thermophoretic behavior of ATTO488-labeled actin in a temperature gradient over time, we could follow polymerization in real time and resolve its three characteristic phases: nucleation, elongation, and steady-state equilibration. Titration experiments allowed us to evaluate the effects of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) on polymerization, including DNase I-induced inhibition and mDia2FH1FH2 (mDia2)-assisted acceleration of nucleation. The corresponding rates of actin filament elongation were quantitatively determined, yielding values in good agreement with those obtained using the pyrene-actin polymerization assay. Finally, we measured the effect of myosin on actin polymerization, circumventing the problems of fluorescence quenching and signal disturbance that occur with other techniques. MST is a simple and valuable research tool for investigating actin kinetics covering a wide range of molecular interactions, with low protein consumption.
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spelling doaj-art-bcbbed87afe24e9cae46a7b348ffda592025-08-20T02:25:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupBioTechniques0736-62051940-98182017-10-0163418719010.2144/000114599MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kineticsAndrea Topf0Peter Franz1Georgios Tsiavaliaris21Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany1Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany1Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyHere, we present a MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST)–based assay for in vitro assessment of actin polymerization. By monitoring the thermophoretic behavior of ATTO488-labeled actin in a temperature gradient over time, we could follow polymerization in real time and resolve its three characteristic phases: nucleation, elongation, and steady-state equilibration. Titration experiments allowed us to evaluate the effects of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) on polymerization, including DNase I-induced inhibition and mDia2FH1FH2 (mDia2)-assisted acceleration of nucleation. The corresponding rates of actin filament elongation were quantitatively determined, yielding values in good agreement with those obtained using the pyrene-actin polymerization assay. Finally, we measured the effect of myosin on actin polymerization, circumventing the problems of fluorescence quenching and signal disturbance that occur with other techniques. MST is a simple and valuable research tool for investigating actin kinetics covering a wide range of molecular interactions, with low protein consumption.https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114599microscale thermophoresisactinpolymerizationactin-binding proteinkinetics
spellingShingle Andrea Topf
Peter Franz
Georgios Tsiavaliaris
MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics
BioTechniques
microscale thermophoresis
actin
polymerization
actin-binding protein
kinetics
title MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics
title_full MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics
title_fullStr MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics
title_full_unstemmed MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics
title_short MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) for studying actin polymerization kinetics
title_sort microscale thermophoresis mst for studying actin polymerization kinetics
topic microscale thermophoresis
actin
polymerization
actin-binding protein
kinetics
url https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114599
work_keys_str_mv AT andreatopf microscalethermophoresismstforstudyingactinpolymerizationkinetics
AT peterfranz microscalethermophoresismstforstudyingactinpolymerizationkinetics
AT georgiostsiavaliaris microscalethermophoresismstforstudyingactinpolymerizationkinetics