RNA-protein interactions in the yeast three-hybrid system: affinity, sensitivity, and enhanced library screening

RNA. 2005 Feb;11(2):227-33. doi: 10.1261/rna.7202705. Epub 2004 Dec 21.

Abstract

The yeast three-hybrid system has become a useful tool in analyzing RNA-protein interactions. An RNA sequence is tested in combination with an RNA-binding protein linked to a transcription activation domain (AD). A productive RNA-protein interaction activates a reporter gene in vivo. The system has been used to test candidate RNA-protein pairs, to isolate mutations in each interacting partner, and to identify proteins that bind a given RNA sequence. However, the relationship between reporter gene activation and in vitro affinity of an RNA-protein interaction has not been examined systematically. This limits interpretation of the data and complicates the development of new strategies. Here, we analyze several key parameters of the three-hybrid system, using as a model the interaction of a PUF protein, FBF-1, with a range of RNA targets. We compare activation of two reporter genes as a function of the in vitro affinity of the interaction. HIS3 and LacZ expression levels are directly related to affinity over a 10-fold range of Kd. Expression of the reporter genes also is directly related to the abundance of the activation domain fusion protein. We describe a new yeast strain, YBZ1, that simplifies screening of cDNA/AD libraries. This strain possesses a tandem, head-to-tail dimer of a high-affinity variant of MS2 coat protein, fused to a monomer of the LexA DNA-binding protein. We show that the use of this strain in cDNA library screens increases the number of genuine, sequence-specific positives detected, and at the same time reduces the background of false, RNA-independent positives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Genes, Reporter
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lac Operon
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • FBF1 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • RNA