Interactions between proteins are central to most biological processes; consequently, understanding the latter requires identification of all possible protein interactions within a cell. To extend the range of existing assays for the detection of protein interactions, we present a novel genetic screening assay, the cytosolic yeast two-hybrid system (cytoY2H), which is based on the split-ubiquitin technique and detects protein-protein interactions in the cytoplasm. We show that the assay can be applied to a wide range of proteins that are difficult to study in the classical yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system, including transcription factors such as p53 and members of the NF-kappaB complex. Furthermore, we applied the cytoY2H system to cDNA library screening and identified several new interaction partners of Uri1p, an uncharacterized yeast protein. The cytoY2H system extends existing methods for the detection of protein interactions by providing a convenient solution for screening a wide range of transcriptionally active proteins.

Measurement of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) activity is an important step in every yeast two-hybrid assay, yet many commonly used methods have distinct disadvantages, such as being only qualitative, time-consuming, and cumbersome when processing large numbers of samples. To overcome these drawbacks, we have implemented a novel technique, termed pellet X-gal assay, that allows simultaneous quantitative measurements from large numbers of samples with a minimum of hands-on time. The method was tested using five different, previously described protein-protein interactions and compared to two standard methods, the colony filter lift and the liquid ONPG assay. Our assay allows accurate quantitative measurements of protein-protein interactions and covers a greater dynamic range than the classic ONPG assay. The novel assay is robust and requires very little handling, making it suitable for applications in which several hundreds of individual protein interaction pairs need to be measured simultaneously.

Skin comprises many cell types that are characterized by high biosynthetic activity and increased energy turnover. The creatine kinase system, consisting of creatine kinase isoenzymes and creatine transporter, is known to be important to support the high energy demands in such cells. We analyzed the presence and the localization of these proteins in murine and human skin under healthy and pathologic conditions, using immunoblotting and confocal immunohistochemistry with our recently developed specific antibodies. In murine skin, we found high amounts of brain-type cytosolic creatine kinase coexpressed with lower amounts of ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase, both mainly localized in suprabasal layers of the epidermis, different cell types of hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and the subcutaneous panniculus carnosus muscle. With exception of sebaceous glands, these cells were also expressing creatine transporter. Muscle-type cytosolic creatine kinase and sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase were restricted to panniculus carnosus. Immediately after wounding of murine skin, brain-type cytosolic creatine kinase and a creatine transporter-subspecies were transiently upregulated about 3-fold as seen in immunoblots, whereas the amount of ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase increased during days 10-15 after wounding. Healthy and psoriatic human skin showed a similar coexpression pattern of brain-type cytosolic creatine kinase, ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase, and creatine transporter in this pilot study, with creatine transporter species being upregulated in psoriasis.

Translation initiation in eukaryotes is accomplished by a large set of translation initiation factors, some of which are regulated by signals monitoring intracellular and environmental conditions. Here, we show that Uri1p is required for efficient translation initiation in budding yeast. Indeed, uri1D cells are slow growing, sensitive to translation inhibitors and they exhibit an increased 80S peak in polysome profiles. Moreover, GCN4 translation is derepressed in uri1D cells, strongly supporting an initiation defect. Genetic and biochemical experiments indicate that Uri1p interacts with the translation initiation factor eIF1A and promotes ternary complex (TC) recruitment to the 40S subunit. Interestingly, we found that Uri1p is also part of a chaperone-network, including the prefoldin Pfd6p and several other proteins involved in cotranslational quality control such as the ribosome-associated Hsp70 chaperone Ssb1p, the Hsp40 Sis1p and the translation elongation factor eEF1A. Together with genetic data, these interactions indicate that Uri1p may coordinate translation initiation and cotranslational quality control.