Pulse-chase analysis

Pulse-chase analysis (PCA) is used to study the life cycles of proteins. Pulse-chase analysis experiments use radioactive and cytotoxic labels to "tag" proteins. Commonly used methods include treating cells with <a href="/facts/Cycloheximide/n4vb6su6">cycloheximide</a> (CHX) to stop protein synthesis or radioisotopic <a href="/facts/Amino_acid/WDxYwBny">amino acids</a> or proteins such as <a href="/facts/Green_fluorescent_protein/6nWDMhSC">green fluorescent protein (GFP</a>). These labels are used to study proteins through their life cycles. 
While pulse-chase analysis is mainly used to study proteins, it can also be used to study different molecular structures that interact with proteins. Proteins can interact with different structures either because they are incorporated into the structure, such as in cells, or because they are part of a larger structure, such as in macromolecules. 
In biochemistry and molecular biology, a pulse-chase analysis is a method for examining a cellular process occurring over time by successively exposing the cells to a labeled compound (pulse) and then to the same compound in an unlabeled form (chase).

Pulse-chase analysis open-in-new

Pulse-chase analysis