Tracking protein-protein interaction and localization in living cells using a high-affinity molecular binder

Probing protein-protein interactions in living cells is crucial for understanding the protein functions and developing drugs. Small-sized protein binders are considered effective and useful for such analysis. Here we describe the development and use of a repebody, which is a protein binder composed of LRR (Leucine-rich repeat) modules, for tracking protein-protein interaction and localization in real-time through live-cell imaging. A repebody with high affinity for a red fluorescent protein was selected through a phage display, fused with a green fluorescent protein, and applied for tracing a red fluorescent protein-fused target protein in mammalian cells. The potential and utility of our approach was demonstrated by tracking the rapamycin-mediated interaction between FKBP12-rapamycin binding (FRB) domain and a FK506-binding protein (FKBP) and their localization by live-cell imaging. The present approach can be widely used for the analysis of protein-protein interaction and an understanding of complex biological processes in living cells.