Results and prospects of the yeast three-hybrid system.

In 1996, a new method, termed the yeast three-hybrid system, dedicated to selection of RNA binding proteins using a hybrid RNA molecule as bait was described. In this minireview, we summarize the results that have been obtained using this method. Indeed, approximately 20 unknown proteins have been characterized so far. The three-hybrid strategy has also been used as a tool to dissect RNA-protein interactions. The example of such a study on human histone HBP interaction with its target mRNA is described. Problems that can be encountered are addressed in a troubleshooting section. Especially, our results with tRNA binding proteins are discussed.