Enriching Subcellular Proteins in Leptospira Using a Triton X-114-Based Fractionation Approach

Prokaryotes lack precise subcellular organelles but exhibit distinct regions such as cytoplasm, inner membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane, where most biochemical and physiological functions are organized. Thus, understanding the functional characteristics of proteins necessitates elucidating their subcellular localization. However, extracting subcellular proteins from gram-negative bacteria poses challenges due to their complex phospholipid bilayer. Although Triton X-114 has shown promise in outer membrane protein (OMP) extraction, a concise protocol remains elusive. This protocol demonstrates a step-by-step workflow for extracting subcellular proteins using the spirochete Leptospira as a model. This technique, featuring subcellular fractionation and phase separation, yields distinct fractions for cytoplasmic, outer, and inner membrane proteins. The detergent Triton X-114 is well-suited for phase separation due to its optimal cloud point temperature (~22 °C) and low critical micelle concentration (CMC), enabling efficient extraction and purification of native proteins with minimal denaturation. Notably, the analysis reveals the efficiency in discriminating proteins from the inner and outer membranes distinct from the cytoplasm.