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  • Title: A rigorous experimental framework for detecting protein oligomerization using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer.
    Author: James JR, Oliveira MI, Carmo AM, Iaboni A, Davis SJ.
    Journal: Nat Methods; 2006 Dec; 3(12):1001-6. PubMed ID: 17086179.
    Abstract:
    Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), which relies on nonradiative energy transfer between luciferase-coupled donors and GFP-coupled acceptors, is emerging as a useful tool for analyzing the quaternary structures of cell-surface molecules. Conventional BRET analyses are generally done at maximal expression levels and single acceptor/donor ratios. We show that under these conditions substantial energy transfer arises from random interactions within the membrane. The dependence of BRET efficiency on acceptor/donor ratio at fixed surface density, or expression level at a defined acceptor/donor ratio, can nevertheless be used to correctly distinguish between well-characterized monomeric and oligomeric proteins, including a very weak dimer. The pitfalls associated with the nonrigorous treatment of BRET data are illustrated for the case of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) proposed to form homophilic and/or mixed oligomers on the basis of previous, conventional BRET experiments.
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