SNAP-Cell® Starter Kit

Description

The SNAP-tag® is a novel tool for the specific, covalent attachment of virtually any molecule to a protein of interest, providing simplicity and extraordinary versatility to the imaging of proteins in live and fixed cells, and to the study of proteins in vitro. The creation of a single gene construct yields a tagged fusion protein capable of forming a covalent linkage to a variety of functional groups, including fluorophores, biotin, or beads. This system provides a powerful and unique tool to study the role of proteins in a variety of highly dynamic processes, including protein trafficking, turnover, and complex formation. 

The SNAP-tag is a 20 kDa mutant of the human DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine- DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) that reacts specifically and rapidly with benzylguanine (BG) and benzylchloropyrimidine (CP) derivatives, leading to covalent labeling of the SNAP-tag with a synthetic probe (Figure 1). The SNAP-tag has a number of features that make it ideal for a variety of protein labeling applications. The rate of the reaction of the SNAP-tag with these derivatives is largely independent of the nature of the synthetic probe attached to BG, permitting the labeling of SNAP fusion proteins with a wide variety of functional groups. Many of these SNAP-tag substrates are cell-permeable, allowing live-cell imaging of protein expression and localization (Figure 2). The ability to turn on the signal at will, together with the availability of a cell-permeable nonfluorescent blocking agent (SNAP-Cell® Block), allows time-resolved pulse-chase analysis of protein trafficking. Finally, the availability of orthogonal protein labeling systems from NEB permits simultaneous labeling of multiple proteins in a single cell (CLIP-tag™, a SNAP-tag variant that reacts exclusively with O2-benzylcytosine substrates, and the ACP/MCP tags, small protein tags which can be enzymatically labeled on the cell surface with Coenzyme A derivatives).

The SNAP-Cell Starter Kit contains a mammalian expression plasmid (pSNAPf) encoding the SNAP-tag flanked by restriction sites for cloning a gene of interest, and two cell-permeable fluorescent SNAP-tag substrates. A positive control plasmid (pSNAPf-Cox8A), encoding a SNAP-tagged protein (cytochrome c oxidase) with a well-characterized mitochondrial localization, is also included. Lastly, a negative control “blocking agent” (SNAP-Cell Block) is included that interacts with the SNAP-tag, but is not fluorescent. There are two steps to using this system: subcloning and expression of the protein of interest as a SNAPf fusion, and labeling of the fusion with the SNAP-tag substrate of choice.

Figure 1: SNAP-tag ReactionFigure 1: SNAP-tag Reaction

Figure 2:  Live cell imaging of SNAPf Fusion Proteins. Figure 2. Live cell imaging of SNAPf Fusion proteins

Live CHO-K1 cells transiently transfected with pSNAPf-H2B. Cells were labeled with SNAP-Cell 505-star (green) for 15 minutes at 37°C, 5% CO2.
Figure 3:  Live cell imaging of SNAPf Fusion Proteins.
 Figure 3: Live cell imaging of SNAPf Fusion Proteins
Live COS-7 cells expressing mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 8A-SNAPf (SNAPf-Cox8A) were labeled with SNAP-Cell TMR-Star (red). Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33342 (blue).

Kit Components

The following reagents are supplied with this product:

Store at (°C)Concentration
pSNAPf Vector-200.5 mg/ml
pSNAPf-Cox8A Control Plasmid-200.5 mg/ml
SNAP-Cell® 505-Star10 nmol
SNAP-Cell® TMR-Star-206 nmol
SNAP-Cell® Block-2020 nmol

Properties and Usage

Materials Required but not Supplied

  • Mammalian Cell Lines 
  • DNA Transfection Reagents 
  • Standard Tissue Culture Media and Plasticware 
  • DMSO 
  • Hoechst 33342 for Nuclear Staining (optional)

Storage Temperature

-20°C

Notes

  1. For long-term storage, all kit components should be stored at -20˚C. Plasmid solutions can be stored at 4˚C for up to one week. Undissolved dye and blocking substrates can be stored at 4˚C for up to 4 weeks protected from light and moisture. With proper storage at -20°C the substrates should be stable for at least three years dry or 3 months dissolved in DMSO.
  2. NEB 10-beta Competent E. coli (High Efficiency) (NEB #C3019) is recommended for propagating and subcloning of the vector and control plasmid.

FAQs

  1. What is the SNAP-tag®?
  2. How does it work?
  3. How specific is the binding of substrate to the SNAP-tag®?
  4. How does SNAP-tag labeling differ from using GFP fusion proteins?
  5. What linker type and length would you recommend?
  6. Can I clone my protein as a fusion to the N- or C-terminus of the tags?
  7. What is the smallest peptide and biggest protein you have cloned as SNAP-tag fusions?
  8. What is the solubility of SNAP-tag in insect and bacterial expression systems?
  9. What competent cell strains does NEB suggest for expression in E. coli?
  10. What competent cell E. coli strains are suitable for propagating SNAP-tag plasmids?
  11. Can SNAP-tag fusions be purified and refolded from inclusion bodies?
  12. Are substrates toxic to cells?
  13. How does SNAP-tag affect localization of the fusion partner?
  14. Can I use cell lines which express endogenous AGT?
  15. How stable is the labeled protein in mammalian cells?
  16. Are SNAP-tag substrates stable to fixation?
  17. Can cells expressing SNAP-tag be fixed prior to labeling?
  18. Can SNAP-tag be multiplexed with other protein labeling systems (GFP, Antibody)?
  19. Can you use SNAP-tag for in vivo FRET?
  20. Can cell-impermeable substrates be microinjected into cells, and how is the excess substrate exported?
  21. Does the SNAP-tag labeling reaction work in yeast?
  22. What happens to the fluorophore upon proteolysis?
  23. What conditions are recommended for SNAP-tag labeling in vitro?
  24. What conditions are incompatible with SNAP-tag labeling in vitro?
  25. Can SNAP-tag fusion proteins be labeled in a cell lysate?
  26. I have a compound that I would like to couple to a BG derivative. Where can I get advice?
  27. What is the difference between SNAP-tag and ACP-tag?
  28. What is the difference between SNAP- and CLIP-tag?
  29. Cellular Imaging and Analysis FAQs

Protocols

  1. Cellular Labeling (E9100)
  2. Use of SNAP-Cell Block with SNAP-Cell Substrates (E9100)
  3. Labeling of Proteins in vitro (E9100)

Manuals

The Product Manual includes details for how to use the product, as well as details of its formulation and quality controls. The following file naming structure is used to name these document files: manual[Catalog Number].

Selection Charts

Troubleshooting Guides

Interactive Tools

Application Notes

Safety Data Sheet

The following is a list of Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that apply to this product to help you use it safely.