PROTEIN INTERACTION SYSTEM FOR MULTISUBUNIT COMPLEXES

摘要

A protein interaction method and composition are described. The method and composition are useful for a number of purposes including: reconstituting multisubunit protein complexes, identifying known binding subunits, detrmining the kinetics and order of self assembly of a multsubunit protein complex, and drug screening. The method involves contacting a conjugate with a solid surface having an immobilized first coil-forming peptide characterized by a selected charge and an ability to interact with a second, oppositely carged coil-forming peptide to form a stable alpha-helical coiled-coil heterodimer, where the conjugate comprises (a) the second, oppositely charged coil-forming peptide, and (b) a first subunit polypeptide which is one of a plurality of subunit polypeptides in a multisubunit complex. By said contacting the conjugate is bound to the solid surface. Other subunit of the complex are added under conditions effective to promote self-assembly of the subunit complex or the solid surface.