SYSTEMATIC CONTROL OF PROTEIN INTERACTION USING A MODULAR ER/K LINKER

摘要

Disclosed herein is a genetically encoded biosensor for use in measuring protein-protein interactions such as affinity of intra- or intermolecular interactions. The disclosed biosensor utilizes an unusual polypeptide linker, an ER/K motif. The ER/K motif is a polypeptide composed of 70% or more of the amino acids glutamic acid, arginine and/or lysine. The ER/K motif, by virtue of its alternating charge is unlikely to interact with protein domains at its ends and is stable under extremes of pH, salt concentrations, and temperature. ER/K motif linkers can be used, because of unusual structural properties to measure the frequency of protein-protein interactions and identify compounds that alter such interactions.