Application of TurboID-mediated proximity labeling for mapping a GSK3 kinase signaling network in Arabidopsis

Abstract Transient protein-protein interactions (PPIs), such as those between posttranslational modifying enzymes and their substrates, play key roles in cellular regulation, but are difficult to identify. Here we demonstrate the application of enzyme-catalyzed proximity labeling (PL), using the engineered promiscuous biotin ligase TurboID, as a sensitive method for characterizing PPIs in signaling networks. We show that TurboID fused with the GSK3-like kinase BIN2 or a PP2A phosphatase biotinylates their known substrate, the BZR1 transcription factor, with high specificity and efficiency. We optimized the protocol of biotin labeling and affinity purification in transgenic Arabidopsis expressing a BIN2-TurboID fusion protein. Subsequent quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) analysis identified about three hundred proteins biotinylated by BIN2-TurboID more efficiently than the YFP-TurboID control. These include a significant subset of previously proven BIN2 interactors and a large number of new BIN2-proximal proteins that uncover a broad BIN2 signaling network. Our study illustrates that PL-MS using TurboID is a powerful tool for mapping signaling networks, and reveals broad roles of BIN2 kinase in cellular signaling and regulation in plants. Impact Statement TurboID-mediated proximity labeling is a powerful tool for protein interactomics in plants.