A Flow-Extension Tethered Particle Motion Assay for Single-Molecule Proteolysis

Biochemistry. 2019 May 21;58(20):2509-2518. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00106. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Abstract

Regulated proteolysis of signaling proteins under mechanical tension enables cells to communicate with their environment in a variety of developmental and physiologic contexts. The role of force in inducing proteolytic sensitivity has been explored using magnetic tweezers at the single-molecule level with bead-tethered assays, but such efforts have been limited by challenges in ensuring that beads not be restrained by multiple tethers. Here, we describe a multiplexed assay for single-molecule proteolysis that overcomes the multiple-tether problem using a flow-extension strategy on a microscope equipped with magnetic tweezers. Particle tracking and computational sorting of flow-induced displacements allow assignment of tethered substrates to singly captured and multiply tethered bins, with the fraction of fully mobile, single-tether substrates depending inversely on the concentration of substrate loaded on the coverslip. Computational exclusion of multiple-tether beads enables robust assessment of on-target proteolysis by the highly specific tobacco etch virus protease and the more promiscuous metalloprotease ADAM17. This method should be generally applicable to a wide range of proteases and readily extensible to robust evaluation of proteolytic sensitivity as a function of applied magnetic force.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • ADAM17 Protein / chemistry*
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Phenomena
  • Microfluidics / methods
  • Motion
  • Peptides / analysis*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Potyvirus / enzymology
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Proteolysis*
  • Single Molecule Imaging / methods*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • DNA
  • Endopeptidases
  • TEV protease
  • ADAM17 Protein

Supplementary concepts

  • Tobacco etch virus