Maintenance of a Drosophila melanogaster Population Cage

Large-scale growth of C. elegans and isolation of membrane protein complexes

Purification of membrane proteins for biochemical and structural studies is commonly achieved by recombinant overexpression in heterologous cell lines. However, many membrane proteins do not form a functional complex in a heterologous system, and few methods exist to purify sufficient protein from a native source for use in biochemical, biophysical and structural studies. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of membrane protein complexes from transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. We describe how to grow a genetically modified C. elegans line in abundance using standard laboratory equipment, and how to optimize purification conditions on a small scale using fluorescence-detection size-exclusion chromatography. Optimized conditions can then be applied to a large-scale preparation, enabling the purification of adequate quantities of a target protein for structural, biochemical and biophysical studies. Large-scale worm growth can be accomplished in ~9 d, and each optimization experiment can be completed in less than 1 d. We have used these methods to isolate the transmembrane channel-like protein 1 complex, as well as three additional protein complexes (transmembrane-like channel 2, lipid transfer protein and 'Protein S'), from transgenic C. elegans, demonstrating the utility of this approach in purifying challenging, low-abundance membrane protein complexes.

Isha is a su(Hw) mRNA-binding protein required for gypsy insulator function

Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes localized throughout the genome capable of establishing independent transcriptional domains. It was previously reported that the Drosophila su(Hw) mRNA physically associates with the gypsy chromatin insulator protein complex within the nucleus and may serve a noncoding function to affect insulator activity. However, how this mRNA is recruited to the gypsy complex is not known. Here, we utilized RNA-affinity pulldown coupled with mass spectrometry to identify a novel RNA-binding protein, Isha (CG4266), that associates with su(Hw) mRNA in vitro and in vivo. Isha harbors a conserved RNA recognition motif and RNA Polymerase II C-terminal domain-interacting domain (CID). We found that Isha physically interacts with total and elongating Polymerase II and associates with chromatin at the 5' end of genes in an RNA-dependent manner. Furthermore, ChIP-seq analysis reveals Isha overlaps particularly with the core gypsy insulator component CP190 on chromatin. Depletion of Isha reduces enhancer-blocking and barrier activities of the gypsy insulator and disrupts the nuclear localization of insulator bodies. Our results reveal a novel factor Isha that promotes gypsy insulator activity that may act as a nuclear RNA-binding protein adapter for su(Hw) noncoding mRNA.

M1BP cooperates with CP190 to activate transcription at TAD borders and promote chromatin insulator activity

Genome organization is driven by forces affecting transcriptional state, but the relationship between transcription and genome architecture remains unclear. Here, we identified the Drosophila transcription factor Motif 1 Binding Protein (M1BP) in physical association with the gypsy chromatin insulator core complex, including the universal insulator protein CP190. M1BP is required for enhancer-blocking and barrier activities of the gypsy insulator as well as its proper nuclear localization. Genome-wide, M1BP specifically colocalizes with CP190 at Motif 1-containing promoters, which are enriched at topologically associating domain (TAD) borders. M1BP facilitates CP190 chromatin binding at many shared sites and vice versa. Both factors promote Motif 1-dependent gene expression and transcription near TAD borders genome-wide. Finally, loss of M1BP reduces chromatin accessibility and increases both inter- and intra-TAD local genome compaction. Our results reveal physical and functional interaction between CP190 and M1BP to activate transcription at TAD borders and mediate chromatin insulator-dependent genome organization.

Transcriptional state plays a role in genome organization, however factors that link these processes are not well known. Here, the authors show Drosophila transcription factor Motif 1-binding protein (M1BP) interacts with the insulator protein CP190 to promote insulator function and activate Motif 1-dependent transcription at topologically associating domain (TAD) borders.

The zinc-finger protein CLAMP promotes gypsy chromatin insulator function in Drosophila

Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes that establish independent higher-order DNA domains to influence transcription. Insulators are functionally defined by two properties: they can block communication between an enhancer and a promoter, and also act as a barrier between heterochromatin and euchromatin. In Drosophila, the gypsy insulator complex contains three core components; Su(Hw), CP190 and Mod(mdg4)67.2. Here, we identify a novel role for Chromatin-linked adaptor for MSL proteins (CLAMP) in promoting gypsy chromatin insulator function. When clamp is knocked down, gypsy-dependent enhancer-blocking and barrier activities are strongly reduced. CLAMP associates physically with the core gypsy insulator complex, and ChIP-seq analysis reveals extensive overlap, particularly with promoter-bound CP190 on chromatin. Depletion of CLAMP disrupts CP190 binding at a minority of shared sites, whereas depletion of CP190 results in extensive loss of CLAMP chromatin association. Finally, reduction of CLAMP disrupts CP190 localization within the nucleus. Our results support a positive functional relationship between CLAMP and CP190 to promote gypsy chromatin insulator activity.

Medium-scale Preparation of Drosophila Embryo Extracts for Proteomic Experiments

Analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) has become an indispensable approach to study biological processes and mechanisms, such as cell signaling, organism development, and disease. It is often desirable to obtain PPI information using in vivo material, to gain the most natural and unbiased view of the interaction networks. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent platform to study PPIs in vivo, and lends itself to straightforward approaches to isolating material for biochemical experiments. In particular, fruit fly embryos represent a convenient type of tissue to study PPIs, due to the ease of collecting animals at this developmental stage and the fact that the majority of proteins are expressed in embryogenesis, thus providing a relevant environment to reveal most PPIs. Here we present a protocol for collection of Drosophila embryos at medium scale (0.5-1 g), which is an ideal amount for a wide range of proteomic applications, including analysis of PPIs by affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS). We describe our designs for 1 L and 5 L cages for embryo collections that can be easily and inexpensively set up in any laboratory. We also provide a general protocol for embryo collection and protein extraction to generate lysates that can be directly used in downstream applications such as AP-MS. Our goal is to provide an accessible means for all researchers to carry out the analyses of PPIs in vivo.