What is the DUALhunter system?

The DUALhunter system is a yeast-based, in vivo screening system to identify protein-protein interactions. It is based on the split-ubiquitin system invented at Caltech by Nils Johnsson and Alexander Varshavsky (Johnsson and Varshavsky, 1994).

 

The DUALhunter system has been designed for use with proteins that are self-activating in the classical yeast two-hybrid system. Self-activating proteins activate the transcriptional readout in a yeast two-hybrid screen in the absence of a protein-protein interaction. For this reason, self-activating proteins cannot be used in classical yeast two-hybrid assays. Many nuclear proteins and transcription factors are self-activating, but there are also cytosolic proteins with self-activating properties. 

 

The DUALhunter system lets you screen these proteins by taking the protein interaction out of the nucleus into the cytosol of the yeast cell.

 

 
 

How do I apply the DUALhunter system?

Your protein of interest represents the starting point for the screen, the so-called "bait". Your bait is immobilized at the membrane via a small membrane anchor and is then screened against a cDNA library constructed from a suitable tissue. Proteins that interact specifically with your bait are isolated from the screen.

 

Because the DUALhunter system is a genetic system, there is no need for protein expression, purification or any in vitro assays. All you need is a cDNA encoding your protein of interest. Binding partners of your bait are also obtained as cDNA clones and can be used as a starting point for further experiments.

 

 

What are the advantages of a custom DUALhunter screen?

By using a custom DUALhunter screening service, you can profit from our know-how in yeast-based screening.

• Go beyond classical yeast two-hybrid and screen self-activating proteins, transcription factors, or acidic proteins
• No need to establish the DUALhunter system in your lab
• Fast turnaround times
• You send us the cDNA encoding your protein of interest and select a cDNA library, we perform the entire screening for you
• Ready to use results, allowing your to immediately start downstream experiments

 

 

DUALhunter Plus custom screening
Available DUALhunter cDNA libraries The DUALhunter technology in detail