Proximity labeling in mammalian cells with TurboID and split-TurboID

Nat Protoc. 2020 Dec;15(12):3971-3999. doi: 10.1038/s41596-020-0399-0. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Abstract

This protocol describes the use of TurboID and split-TurboID in proximity labeling applications for mapping protein-protein interactions and subcellular proteomes in live mammalian cells. TurboID is an engineered biotin ligase that uses ATP to convert biotin into biotin-AMP, a reactive intermediate that covalently labels proximal proteins. Optimized using directed evolution, TurboID has substantially higher activity than previously described biotin ligase-related proximity labeling methods, such as BioID, enabling higher temporal resolution and broader application in vivo. Split-TurboID consists of two inactive fragments of TurboID that can be reconstituted through protein-protein interactions or organelle-organelle interactions, which can facilitate greater targeting specificity than full-length enzymes alone. Proteins biotinylated by TurboID or split-TurboID are then enriched with streptavidin beads and identified by mass spectrometry. Here, we describe fusion construct design and characterization (variable timing), proteomic sample preparation (5-7 d), mass spectrometric data acquisition (2 d), and proteomic data analysis (1 week).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biotinylation
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*
  • Staining and Labeling / methods*