Identification of Lipid-Binding Effectors

In recent years, the functional roles of effectors from a wide variety of fungal and oomycete pathogens have begun to emerge. As a product of this work, the importance of effector-lipid interactions has been made apparent. Phospholipids are not only important signaling molecules, but they also play important roles in the trafficking of endosomes and the localization of proteins. Characterizing effector-lipid interactions can provide novel information regarding the functions of effectors relevant to their cellular and subcellular targeting and their potential effects on host signaling and vesicle trafficking. We present here two techniques that can be used to screen for and validate protein-lipid interactions without the need to access highly specialized machinery. We describe in detail how to perform lipid filter and liposome-binding assays and provide suggestions for troubleshooting potential problems with these assays.