Pulse-chase analysis

In biochemistry and molecular biology, a pulse-chase analysis is a method for examining a cellular process occurring over time by successively exposing the cells to a labeled compound (pulse) and then to the same compound in an unlabeled form (chase).[1]

Pulse-chase analysis of auxin signal transduction in an Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype and an axr2-1 mutant. Wild-type and axr2-1 seedlings were labeled with 35S-methionine, and AXR2/axr2-1 protein was immunoprecipitated either immediately after the labeling period (t = 0) or following a 15-minute chase with unlabeled methionine (t = 15).

Mechanism

A selected cell or a group of cells is first exposed to a labeled compound (the pulse) that is to be incorporated into a molecule or system that is studied (also see pulse labeling). The compound then goes through the metabolic pathways and is used in the synthesis of the product studied. For example, a radioactively labeled form of leucine (3H-leucine) can be supplied to a group of pancreatic beta cells, which then uses this amino acid in insulin synthesis.

Shortly after introduction of the labeled compound (usually about 5 minutes, but the actual time needed is dependent on the object studied), excess of the same, but unlabeled, substance (the chase) is introduced into the environment. Following the previous example, the production of insulin would continue, but it would no longer contain the radioactive leucine introduced in the pulse phase and would not be visible using radioactive detection methods. However, the movement of the labeled insulin produced during the pulse period could still be tracked within the cell.[2]

Uses

This method is useful for determining the activity of certain cells over a prolonged period of time. The method has been used to study protein kinase C, ubiquitin, and many other proteins. The method was also used to prove the existence and function of Okazaki fragments. George Palade used pulse-chase of radioactive amino acids to elucidate the secretory pathway.[3][4]

References
  1. Takahashi M, Ono Y (2003). "Pulse-chase analysis of protein kinase C". Methods Mol. Biol. 233: 163–70. doi:10.1385/1-59259-397-6:163. ISBN 978-1-59259-397-2. PMID 12840506.
  2. Ferguson PL, Coombs DH (March 2000). "Pulse-chase analysis of the in vivo assembly of the bacteriophage T4 tail". J. Mol. Biol. 297 (1): 99–117. doi:10.1006/jmbi.2000.3551. PMID 10704310.
  3. Hoyt MA, Zich J, Takeuchi J, Zhang M, Govaerts C, Coffino P (April 2006). "Glycine-alanine repeats impair proper substrate unfolding by the proteasome". EMBO J. 25 (8): 1720–9. doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7601058. PMC 1440830. PMID 16601692. Figures and tables — showing Pulse-Chase Analysis
  4. Alberts, B. (March 2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell, Fourth Edition. ISBN 978-0-8153-3218-3.


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