Analysis of receptor oligomerization by FRAP microscopy

Nat Methods. 2009 Mar;6(3):225-30. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.1304. Epub 2009 Feb 22.

Abstract

Here we describe an approach to investigate di- or oligomerization of transmembrane receptors in living cells with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). We immobilized a defined fraction of receptors with antibodies and then measured lateral mobility of the nonimmobilized fraction by FRAP. We validated this approach with CD86 and CD28 as monomeric and dimeric reference proteins, respectively. Di- or oligomerization of G protein-coupled receptors is strongly debated. We studied human beta-adrenergic receptors as prototypical G protein-coupled receptors and found that beta(1)-AR shows transient interactions whereas beta(2)-AR can form stable oligomers. We propose that this FRAP method can be widely applied to study di- or oligomerization of cell-surface proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activin Receptors, Type II / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • B7-2 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-2 Antigen / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • CD28 Antigens / genetics
  • CD28 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching / methods*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • B7-2 Antigen
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • CD28 Antigens
  • Cyan Fluorescent Protein
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Activin Receptors, Type II
  • activin receptor type II-B