Site-specific DNA-affinity chromatography of the lac repressor

Affinity chromatography of DNA on nonporous copolymerized particles of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate with immobilized polynucleotide

Nonporous particles of microsize were prepared by the dispersion polymerization of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate and chemically modified to introduce amino groups on the surface by grafting with either hexamethylenediamine or N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine. Aminated particles were then coupled with phosphorylated single-stranded polynucleotides at the 5'-end through covalent linkages. The affinity columns packed with these prepared polynucleotide-immobilized particles effectively retained single-stranded DNA, which could base-pair with the immobilized sequence. Bound DNAs could be eluted to yield a sharp peak by using an aqueous solution of 0.4M NaOH. The nonspecific adsorption due to the electrostatic interaction between the polynucleotide and the residual amino groups on the particle surface via the amination with hexamethylenediamine was significant and could only be reduced by using a high salt (NaCl) concentration. A higher salt concentration in the elution solution could result in a portion of complementary polynucleotide eluted in the nonretained fraction. However, the nonspecific adsorption of polynucleotides was insignificant in the column packed with DNA-immobilized particles prepared via amination using N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine. The column was effective for microanalysis of sequence-specific DNA.

A rapid method to capture and screen for transcription factors by SELDI mass spectrometry

A novel method to screen for transcription factors binding to promoter DNA sequences has been developed using DNA chip surfaces and mass spectrometry. This technique was demonstrated with Escherichia coli lac repressor, LacI. The consensus promoter binding sequence for LacI and a scrambled version of the same DNA sequence were prepared on two affinity chip surfaces. Total E. coli protein lysate was applied to the two surfaces. A 38.2 kDa protein, as detected by SELDI-MS, was captured on the chip surface containing the binding sequence for LacI but not on the surface containing the scrambled sequence. The protein was identified following one-step, small-scale affinity capture and peptide mapping. Subsequent database searches identified the 38.2 kDa protein as the lac repressor of E. coli. We discuss application of DNA chip affinity capture to characterize transcription factors and to screen for differences in cellular regulatory networks.

Sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography: application of a group-specific adsorbent for the isolation of restriction endonucleases

The use of sequence-specific DNA affinity adsorbents for the isolation of restriction endonucleases EcoRI and SphI to near homogeneity has been reported. However, the high cost of these adsorbents is a limiting factor for their wider application. This paper reports the application of sequence-specific DNA affinity ligands containing recognition sequences for 34 restriction endonucleases as group-specific ligands in the isolation of restriction endonucleases. Crude samples of six restriction endonucleases, namely BshFI, BamHI, SmaI, SacII, PvuII and SalI, were shown to bind to these adsorbents and could be eluted at different KCl concentrations. High purification factors and recoveries were obtained. Restriction endonuclease BshFI, an isoschizomer of HaeIII, from the microorganism Bacillus sphaericus was purified to near homogeneity employing a two-step procedure which involves DNA-cellulose chromatography and oligonucleotide-ligand affinity chromatography. The enzyme exists as a monomer with an apparent relative molecular mass of 34,000 as determined by both sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography.

Sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography: application to the purification of EcoRI and SphI

Several rapid and effective methods have been described to obtain restriction endonucleases suitable for commercial exploitation. However, lengthy and laborious protocols have been necessary to obtain homogeneous enzymes. We now report the use of sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography to purify restriction endonucleases to near homogeneity. Restriction endonucleases EcoRI and SphI from the microorganisms Escherichia coli RY 13 and Streptomyces phaeochromogenes, respectively, were purified to near homogeneity employing a two-step procedure which involves DNA-cellulose chromatography and oligonucleotide-ligand affinity chromatography.

Affinity chromatography of a sequence-specific DNA binding protein using Teflon-linked oligonucleotides

An affinity matrix was constructed by synthesis of a DNA oligonucleotide on a Teflon fiber support followed by deblocking and hybridization of the complementary strand. It was used to purify a sequence-specific binding protein at least 100-fold to near homogeneity. This matrix is easily fabricated on an automated DNA synthesizer, contains high levels of attached DNA, and has superior mechanical properties. It should be generally useful for affinity chromatography of DNA binding proteins.

Purification of the c-fos enhancer-binding protein

We have purified the c-fos enhancer-binding protein from HeLa cell nuclear extracts. The key purification steps involved chromatography on a nonspecific DNA affinity column, from which binding activity and other protein were eluted at low salt concentrations, followed by chromatography on a specific oligonucleotide affinity column, from which the enhancer binding activity was specifically eluted at high salt concentrations. The purified protein had a strong affinity for the c-fos enhancer dyad symmetry sequence, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 3.3 x 10(-11) M. This affinity was at least 50,000-fold stronger than that found for nonspecific DNA sequences.

Purification of the c-fos enhancer-binding protein

We have purified the c-fos enhancer-binding protein from HeLa cell nuclear extracts. The key purification steps involved chromatography on a nonspecific DNA affinity column, from which binding activity and other protein were eluted at low salt concentrations, followed by chromatography on a specific oligonucleotide affinity column, from which the enhancer binding activity was specifically eluted at high salt concentrations. The purified protein had a strong affinity for the c-fos enhancer dyad symmetry sequence, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 3.3 x 10(-11) M. This affinity was at least 50,000-fold stronger than that found for nonspecific DNA sequences.

Affinity purification of sequence-specific DNA binding proteins

We describe a method for affinity purification of sequence-specific DNA binding proteins that is fast and effective. Complementary chemically synthesized oligodeoxynucleotides that contain a recognition site for a sequence-specific DNA binding protein are annealed and ligated to give oligomers. This DNA is then covalently coupled to Sepharose CL-2B with cyanogen bromide to yield the affinity resin. A partially purified protein fraction is combined with competitor DNA and subsequently passed through the DNA-Sepharose resin. The desired sequence-specific DNA binding protein is purified because it preferentially binds to the recognition sites in the affinity resin rather than to the nonspecific competitor DNA in solution. For example, a protein fraction that is enriched for transcription factor Sp1 can be further purified 500- to 1000-fold by two sequential affinity chromatography steps to give Sp1 of an estimated 90% homogeneity with 30% yield. In addition, the use of tandem affinity columns containing different protein binding sites allows the simultaneous purification of multiple DNA binding proteins from the same extract. This method provides a means for the purification of rare sequence-specific DNA binding proteins, such as Sp1 and CAAT-binding transcription factor.