A surface plasmon resonance-based method for monitoring interactions between G protein-coupled receptors and interacting proteins

The present protocol describes a method by which interactions between G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and intracellular proteins can be monitored in real-time and without the use of exogenous labels. The method is based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and uses synthetic peptides as mimics of intracellular GPCR domains. These peptides are covalently immobilized onto sensor chips and brought into contact with putative interacting proteins in the flow cells of the SPR instrument. The method allows flexible experimental designs, rapid testing of hypotheses and quantitative analysis of interactions. Relative to other established methods, it provides both an alternative and a complementary approach with several key advantages. The present protocol describes the method step-by-step, using the interaction between the serotonin 5-HT(7) receptor and the calcium-binding protein S100B as an example.