Measurement of Protein Thiols after Heat Shock Using 3-(N-Maleimido-Propionyl) Biocytin Labeled Proteins Separated by SDS-PAGE and Electroluted onto Nitrocellulose: Thiol Blotting

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) during heat shock results in protein thiol oxidation, thereby increasing thermal sensitivity. Depletion of GSH was accomplished using a combination of diethylmaleate and buthionine sulfoximine and protein sulfhydryls were measured using two independent methods. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were solubilized in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) sample buffer containing 3-(N-maleimido-propionyl) biocytin, separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE, electroluted onto nitrocellulose, and visualized via avidin-alkaline phosphatase staining. A second method utilized 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) to measure protein solubilized in SDS. The results indicate that when CHO cells are heated at 43 degrees C GSH depletion can increase thermal sensitivity but does not cause nonspecific protein thiol oxidation at this temperature or at 37 degrees C.