Dynein (Cytoplasmic), Porcine brain

AT

1-2 Weeks

8

Cytoplasmic dynein was purified from porcine brain by the procedure of B.M. Paschal et al. (1). The preparation contains dynein heavy chain (520 kDa), intermediate chain (54, 59, and 74 kDa) and light chains (c.20 kDa). The protein has been determined to be biologically active in a microtubule-activated ATPase assay (see below). The protein is supplied as a lyophilized white powder.

Storage and Reconstitution

The protein is supplied in 50 ug amounts which are designed for single use experiments. The powder is resuspended on ice with 50 ul of ice cold water to create a 1 mg/ml solution of dynein with a final buffer composition of 20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 50 mM KCl, 2 mM MgCl₂ 0.5 mM EGTA plus 20% (w/v) sucrose. In this formulation the dynein will remain active for 3 daysWhen stored at 4C. Do not refreeze the protein as this will irreversibly denature the protein.

Method (ATPase endpoint assay)
The reactions were conducted in half area 96 well plates (30 ul reaction volumes). Each reaction contains 0.8 ug of CS-DN01 protein, 2.0 uM taxol-stabilized microtubules (MTs), 10 uM taxol, 12 mM PIPES pH 7.0, 5 mM MgCl₂ and 0.19 mM ATP. Control reactions were carried out in the absence of CS-DN01. These reactions gave readings of <0.1 OD over 20 min. The reaction mixture contains 4 mM azide which reduces kinesin ATPase. After 20 to 45 min incubation at 37 C, reactions were measured in a SpectraMax 250 (Molecular Devices) to 650 nm absorbance wavelength. Typical assay results are shown in Figure 2. The nmoles of Pi was determined by the use of a phosphate standard curve (not shown).
1. Follow protocol to prepare MT solution at 2.0 mg/ml in PEM Buffer plus sequentially added taxol. 1 mg is enough for 96 assays.
a) Resuspend 1 mg >99% pure porcine tubulin (Cat. # T240) in 0.5 ml of ice cold PEM + 10% glycerol (adding extra GTP is not necessary).
b) Place at 37C for 2 min.
c) add 1 ul of 2 mM taxol (final conc = 4 uM), incubate for a further 2 min.
d) add 1 ul of 2 mM taxol (final conc = 4+4 uM), incubate for a further 2 min.
e) add 3 ul of 2 mM taxol (final conc = 4+4+12 uM), incubate for a further 2 min.
f) Place on the bench (not on ice or at 4C) and the taxol-stabilized MTs are now ready. Shelf life is 3 days if not contaminated with bugs or other chemicals.
Note: For screening purposes, MTs are made and used the same day, do not use if more than 6 h old because phosphate will build up due to continued hydrolysis. This will add to background and reduce the S/N ratio.
2. Prepare compounds at 20X in 100% DMSO solution.
10 ul of stock solution at 2 mM compound is recommended.
3. Prepare motor mix as follows.
a) b) Prepare 10 ml PM12 buffer with 10 uM taxol final (50 ul of 2 mM taxol stock). Check reaction buffer for precipitate, make a new solution if precipitation is present.
c) Defrost 100 ug vial of DN01 by placing in a room temperature water bath until melted, then place on ice.
d) Mix the following in order at room temperature (RT) in a 20 ml polypropylene vial (not glass):
4. Reaction conditions.
a) Pipette 1.5 ul of compound into each well.
b) Pipette 30 ul of motor mix into each well.
c) Shake for 1 min at 400 rpm on a plate shaker to mix well.
d) Incubate at 37 C for 20 min (enhancers) or 45 min (inhibitors).
e) Quench and develop signal by pipetting 120 ul of Malachite green solution (CytoPhos reagent in BK053 kit) into each well.

Cytoplasmic dynein ATPase and GTPase activities were measured by monitoring real time free phosphate generation using the Kinesin ATPase Assay Kit (Cat. #BK053). The assay is based upon an increase in absorbance at 650 nm. The absorbance at 650 nm is directly proportional to the amount of Pi generated in the kinesin ATPase/GTPase reaction. Under the conditions outlined below, an OD of 0.10 is equal to 400 pmoles of Pi (Figure 2).