Urea gradient/SDS-PAGE; a useful tool in the investigation of signal transducing G proteins

J Recept Res. 1991;11(1-4):587-601. doi: 10.3109/10799899109066429.

Abstract

We describe an updated and improved protocol to perform urea gradient/SDS-PAGE in which proteins are electrophoresed through 9% polyacrylamide gel slabs in the presence of a linear 4 M to 8 M gradient of urea using Laemmli's separation buffers. We provide examples of this technique to separate PTX labeled G protein alpha subunits, as well as unlabeled alpha and beta subunits of G proteins. Applications of the technique are exemplified in which (1) the chromatographic separations of G proteins in DEAE-Toyopearl and MonoQ columns are compared, (2) the complexity of PTX substrates expressed in human erythrocytes, bovine brain, dog ventricle, FRTL-5 cells, HIT cells, GH4C1 cells and RIN cells are compared, and (3) the polypeptide composition of G protein beta gamma subunits, as expressed in several tissues and found in three distinct G proteins from a single cell population, are analyzed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Catalysis
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Dogs
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Membranes / metabolism
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Urea
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella / pharmacology

Substances

  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella
  • Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose
  • Urea
  • GTP-Binding Proteins