title: Notes and tips for improving quality of lipid-protein overlay assays.
abstract: To reduce costs of lipid-binding assays, allow for multiple lipids to be screened for protein binding simultaneously, and to make lipid binding more user friendly, lipids have been dotted onto membranes to investigate lipid-protein interactions. These assays are similar to a western blot where the membrane is blocked, incubated with a protein of interest and detected using antibodies. Although the assay is inexpensive and straightforward, problems with promiscuous or poor binding, as well as insufficient blocking occur frequently. In this technical note, we share several specific improvements to ensure lipid-protein overlay assays are of high quality and contain proper controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shirey
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend, South Bend, IN 46617, USA. Electronic address: rstaheli@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Stahelin
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Lipid blots; Lipid-protein interactions; PIP strips; Phosphoinositides; Protein-lipid overlay