Establishing and functional characterization of an HEK-293 cell line expressing autofluorescently tagged beta-actin (pEYFP-ACTIN) and the neurokinin type 1 receptor (NK1-R)

Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2010;15(1):55-69. doi: 10.2478/s11658-009-0034-0. Epub 2009 Oct 15.

Abstract

This study focused on establishing and making a comprehensive functional characterization of an HEK-293-transfected cell line that would coexpress the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-actin (pEYFP-actin) construct and the neurokinin type 1 receptor (NK1-R), which is a member of the seven transmembrane (7TM) receptor family. In the initial selection procedure, the cloning ring technique was used alone, but failed to yield clones with homogenous pEYFP-actin expression. Flow cytometry sorting (FCS) was subsequently used to enrich the pEYFP-actin-expressing subpopulation of cells. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), FCS and quantitative real-time reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were then employed to monitor the passage-dependent effects on transgene expression and to estimate the total beta-actin/pEYFP-actin ratio. NK1-R was characterized via radioactive ligand binding and the second messenger assay. The suitability of the pEYFP-actin as a marker of endogenous actin was assessed by colocalizing pEYFP-actin with rhodamine-phalloidine-stained F-actin and by comparing receptor- and jasplakinolide-induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization. These experiments demonstrated that: i) both constructs expressed in the generated transfected cell line are functional; ii) the estimated pEYFP-actin: endogenous beta-actin ratio is within the limits required for the functional integrity of the actin filaments; and iii) pEYFP-actin and rhodamine-phalloidine-stained F-actin structures colocalize and display comparable reorganization patterns in pharmacologically challenged cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / analysis
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Actins / ultrastructure
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / analysis
  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria