Formation and isolation of Clu phospholipid particles

Patricia Yuste-Checa, F Ulrich Hartl, Andreas Bracher

Published: 2024-02-02 DOI: 10.17504/protocols.io.bp2l6x59zlqe/v1

Abstract

This protocol details how to efficiently make in vitro and isolate Clu-phospholipid particles using purified Clusterin from HEK293E cells (dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bvvkn64w) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC).

Attachments

Steps

Formation of Clu-phospholipid particles

1.

Prepare 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) stock solution: 5-25 mg/ml DMPC in 3:1 Chloroform:Methanol and store it at -80°C.

2.

Transfer the corresponding amount of DMPC solution to a glass vial and remove the solvent by evaporation through a constant stream of nitrogen gas until it dries out and becomes waxy.

Note
Avoid overdrying the lipids (extensive white film). If it happens, the lipids can be dissolved in 3:1 Chloroform:Methanol and dried again.

3.

Resuspend the lipids with 1x PBS 7.2 to obtain the desired concentration, vortex and sonicate in a Bioruptor sonication bath (Diagenode) (25 cycles of 5 seconds on – 5 seconds off), or similar. The resulting mixture is turbid and white.

4.

Mix 10micromolar (µM) Clusterin with 10millimolar (mM) DMPC in a PCR tube for a Clusterin:DMPC ratio 1:1000. For example, 10µL Clusterin 20micromolar (µM) + 10µL DMPC 20millimolar (mM) in PCR tubes.

Note
1:1000 Clusterin:DMPC ratio results in extensive Clusterin lipidation. The ratio can be increased and the reaction can be scaled up to obtain high amounts of Clu-phospholipid particles, e.g. for further isolation by size exclusion chromatography.

5.

Incubate the sample through 3 cycles of 18°C for 15 minutes – 30°C for 15 minutes using a PCR thermocycler.

5.1.

Incubate the sample at 18°C for 0h 15m 0s30°C for 0h 15m 0s using a PCR thermocycler (1/3).

5.2.

Incubate the sample at 18°C for 0h 15m 0s30°C for 0h 15m 0s using a PCR thermocycler (2/3).

5.3.

Incubate the sample at 18°C for 0h 15m 0s30°C for 0h 15m 0s using a PCR thermocycler (3/3).

6.

Analyze Clusterin lipidation by Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE). Mix the

samples with NativePAGE Sample Buffer (4X) (refer materials section), load them on a NativePAGE 3%–12% Bis-Tris SDS gel and run the gel in NativePAGE running buffer (refer materials section) at 140 V.

Note
Analysis of protein staining (Coomassie) and lipid staining (Sudan black B) should be done inindependent gels.

7.

For protein staining, incubate the gel 0h 0m 30s with InstantBlue and de-stain next day with water.

8.

For lipid staining, incubate the gel 0h 15m 0s with 0.4% Sudan black B (MERCK, S0395) in 16.7%

acetone, 12.5% acetic acid solution (previously centrifuged to remove precipitates) and de-stain the next day with 20% acetone, 15% acetic acid.

Isolation of Clu-phospholipid nanodisc complexes

9.

Centrifuge lipidated Clusterin using a table top centrifuge for 30 seconds to pellet big multi-lamellar lipid vesicles (white pellet).

10.

Load the supernatant into a Superose 6 previously equilibrated with 1x PBS. Clu-phospholipid

nanodisc complexes elute in the first fractions after void volume.

11.

Collect and concentrate the Clu-phospholipid complex containing fractions by ultrafiltration using

Vivaspin MWCO 10.000 (GE Healthcare).

Note
Even after isolation of Clu-phospholipid particles, some free Clusterin impurity is observed likely due to a dynamic exchange between free and lipidated Clusterin.

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