Biochemical assays for analyzing activities of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes

L. Chen, Soon Keat Ooi, Joan W. Conaway, Ronald C. Conaway

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Members of the SNF2 family of ATPases often function as components of multi-subunit chromatin remodeling complexes that regulate nucleosome dynamics and DNA accessibility by catalyzing ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling. Biochemically dissecting the contributions of individual subunits of such complexes to the multi-step ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling reaction requires the use of assays that monitor the production of reaction products and measure the formation of reaction intermediates. This JOVE protocol describes assays that allow one to measure the biochemical activities of chromatin remodeling complexes or subcomplexes containing various combinations of subunits. Chromatin remodeling is measured using an ATP-dependent nucleosome sliding assay, which monitors the movement of a nucleosome on a DNA molecule using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA)-based method. Nucleosome binding activity is measured by monitoring the formation of remodeling complex-bound mononucleosomes using a similar EMSA-based method, and DNA-or nucleosome-dependent ATPase activity is assayed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) to measure the rate of conversion of ATP to ADP and phosphate in the presence of either DNA or nucleosomes. Using these assays, one can examine the functions of subunits of a chromatin remodeling complex by comparing the activities of the complete complex to those lacking one or more subunits. The human INO80 chromatin remodeling complex is used as an example; however, the methods described here can be adapted to the study of other chromatin remodeling complexes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere51721
JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments
Issue number92
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 25 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ATPase
  • Biochemical assays
  • Biochemistry
  • INO80
  • Issue 92
  • Nucleosome binding
  • Nucleosome remodeling
  • SNF2 family ATPase
  • chromatin remodeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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