Mapping molecular interactions in plants with protein fragments complementation assays

Abstract

Protein Fragment Complementation Assays (PCA) are done in plant material using enzyme fragment constructs, for example, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) fragment constructs. Plant material is transformed with at least two different constructs that form different products capable of interacting to reconstitute enzymatic activity in the plant material. Detection of the activity can be done using a substrate for the enzyme in the culture medium which, when reacted with the enzyme, is converted to a detectable product. One embodiment uses a substrate that can be enzymatically converted to a detectable fluorescent product. An inducer such as rapamycin or salicylic acid can be added to the culture medium to increase the level of detectable product.