Estimation of Structural Sensitivity of Intrinsically Disordered Regions in Response to Hyperosmotic Stress in Living Cells Using FRET

Abstract

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are protein domains that participate in crucial cellular processes. During stress conditions, the physicochemical properties of the cellular environment change, directly impacting the conformational ensemble of IDRs. IDRs are inherently sensitive to environmental perturbations. Studying how the physicochemical properties of the cell regulate the conformational ensemble of IDRs is essential for understanding the environmental control of their function. Here, we describe a step-by-step method for measuring the structural sensitivity of IDRs in living Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in response to hyperosmotic stress conditions. We present the use of ensemble fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to estimate how the global dimensions of IDRs change during a progressive increase of hyperosmotic stress imposed on cells with any osmolyte. In addition, we provide a script for processing fluorescence measurements and comparing structural sensitivity for different IDRs. By following this method, researchers can obtain valuable insights into the conformational changes that IDRs undergo in the complex intracellular milieu upon changing environments.