Quantitative assay for membrane association of proteins

A method for detection of association of a peripheral cellular membrane binding protein with a cellular membrane in living cells, said method comprising:

• providing a kit comprising:
• a first nucleic acid construct comprising:
• a first nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein comprising a peripheral cellular membrane binding protein or membrane binding domain thereof operatively coupled to DNA binding and transactivation domains of a naturally occurring or chimeric transcription factor and
• a first promoter operatively associated with the first nucleic acid molecule and
• a second nucleic acid construct comprising:
• a second nucleic acid molecule encoding a reporter protein and
• a second promoter responsive to the DNA binding and transactivation domains, said second promoter being operatively associated with the second nucleic acid molecule, whereby activation of the second promoter results in expression of the reporter protein;
• transforming a first set of the living cells with the first and second nucleic acid constructs;
• detecting expression of the reporter protein in the first set of transformed living cells;
• and
• identifying the first set of transformed living cells expressing the reporter protein as having a lack of or inhibition of peripheral membrane protein association with a cellular membrane of the living cells.