title: HaloTag technology: a versatile platform for biomedical applications.
abstract: Exploration of protein function and interaction is critical for discovering links among genomics, proteomics, and disease state; yet, the immense complexity of proteomics found in biological systems currently limits our investigational capacity. Although affinity and autofluorescent tags are widely employed for protein analysis, these methods have been met with limited success because they lack specificity and require multiple fusion tags and genetic constructs. As an alternative approach, the innovative HaloTag protein fusion platform allows protein function and interaction to be comprehensively analyzed using a single genetic construct with multiple capabilities. This is accomplished using a simplified process, in which a variable HaloTag ligand binds rapidly to the HaloTag protein (usually linked to the protein of interest) with high affinity and specificity. In this review, we examine all current applications of the HaloTag technology platform for biomedical applications, such as the study of protein isolation and purification, protein function, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, biological assays, in vitro cellular imaging, and in vivo molecular imaging. In addition, novel uses of the HaloTag platform are briefly discussed along with potential future applications.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: England
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Haiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: †Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.|‡Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.|§University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Weibo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004247:DNA