Analysis of DNA and RNA binding properties of Borrelia burgdorferi regulatory proteins

Abstract

Bioinformatic approaches and a large volume of prokaryotic genome sequences have enabled rapid identification of regulatory proteins with features to bind DNA or RNA in a given prokaryote. However, biological relevance of these regulatory proteins requires methods to rapidly purify and determine their binding properties within the physiological context or life style of the organism. Here, we describe the experimental approaches to determine the nucleic acid binding properties of regulatory proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi using Borrelia host-adaptation Re.3gulator (BadR—a DNA binding protein) and Carbon storage regulators A of B. burgdorferi (CsrABb—an RNA binding protein) as examples. Best laboratory practices associated with overexpression/purification of recombinant borrelial proteins, synthesis of target nucleic acid sequences, and electrophoretic mobility assays to assess the protein/nucleic acid interactions are described. The methods described are intended to facilitate empirical assessment of the binding affinity, co-factor requirements, quality of the interacting partners, and readily modifiable assay conditions to assess the binding properties to define known and unknown regulatory properties of nucleic acid binding proteins of B. burgdorferi.