Characterization of Proteins Associated with Polyglutamine Aggregates

The common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases is emergence of protein aggregates. Identifying their composition can provide valuable insights into the cellular mechanisms of protein aggregation and neuronal death. No reliable method for identification of the aggregate-associated proteins has been available. Here we describe a method for characterization of protein aggregates based on sedimentation of immunocomplexes without involvement of a solid support. As a model, we used the aggregates formed in yeast by a polyglutamine-containing segment of mutant huntingtin. Sixteen proteins associated with the isolated aggregates were identified with 2D gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry. We found that the aggregates in cells lacking Rnq1 prion recruited lesser amounts of chaperones than those in the wild type cells. The method can be utilized for characterization of various types of aggregates, prions and very large protein complexes under mild conditions that preserve associated proteins.