Max Davidson

Combining phenotypic and proteomic approaches to identify membrane targets in a ‘triple negative’ breast cancer cell type

BackgroundThe continued discovery of therapeutic antibodies, which address unmet medical needs, requires the continued discovery of tractable antibody targets. Multiple protein-level target discovery approaches are available and these can be used in combination to extensively survey relevant cell membranomes. In this study, the MDA-MB-231 cell line was selected for membranome survey as it is a ‘triple negative’ breast cancer cell line, which represents a cancer subtype that is aggressive and has few treatment options.MethodsThe MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell line was used to explore three membranome target discovery approaches, which were used in parallel to cross-validate the significance of identified antigens. A proteomic approach, which used membrane protein enrichment followed by protein identification by mass spectrometry, was used alongside two phenotypic antibody screening approaches. The first phenotypic screening approach was based on hybridoma technology and the second was based on phage display technology. Antibodies isolated by the phenotypic approaches were tested for cell specificity as well as internalisation and the targets identified were compared to each other as well as those identified by the proteomic approach. An anti-CD73 antibody derived from the phage display-based phenotypic approach was tested for binding to other ‘triple negative’ breast cancer cell lines and tested for tumour growth inhibitory activity in a MDA-MB-231 xenograft model.ResultsAll of the approaches identified multiple cell surface markers, including integrins, CD44, EGFR, CD71, galectin-3, CD73 and BCAM, some of which had been previously confirmed as being tractable to antibody therapy. In total, 40 cell surface markers were identified for further study. In addition to cell surface marker identification, the phenotypic antibody screening approaches provided reagent antibodies for target validation studies. This is illustrated using the anti-CD73 antibody, which bound other ‘triple negative’ breast cancer cell lines and produced significant tumour growth inhibitory activity in a MDA-MB-231 xenograft model.ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated that multiple methods are required to successfully analyse the membranome of a desired cell type. It has also successfully demonstrated that phenotypic antibody screening provides a mechanism for rapidly discovering and evaluating antibody tractable targets, which can significantly accelerate the therapeutic discovery process.

Proteomic Analysis of Plasma Membrane Vesicles

A simple and scalable method is presented for harvesting, purification, and on-chip processing of mammalian plasma membrane vesicles (PMVs) optimized for downstream proteome analysis. After immobilization on a microfluidic flowcell of PMVs, the embedded membrane proteins are proteolytically digested, and the peptides harvested and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Over 93% of the detected proteins are plasma-membrane-derived.

Strain-Level Typing and Identification of Bacteria Using Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics

Because of the alarming expansion in the diversity and occurrence of bacteria displaying virulence and resistance to antimicrobial agents, it is increasingly important to be able to detect these microorganisms and to differentiate and identify closely related species, as well as different strains of a given species. In this study, a mass spectrometry proteomics approach is applied, exploiting lipid-based protein immobilization (LPI), wherein intact bacterial cells are bound, via membrane-gold interactions, within a FlowCell. The bound cells are subjected to enzymatic digestion for the generation of peptides, which are subsequently identified, using LC-MS. Following database matching, strain-specific peptides are used for subspecies-level discrimination. The method is shown to enable a reliable typing and identification of closely related strains of the same bacterial species, herein illustrated for Helicobacter pylori .

Microfluidic Flow Cell for Sequential Digestion of Immobilized Proteoliposomes

We have developed a microfluidic flow cell where stepwise enzymatic digestion is performed on immobilized proteoliposomes and the resulting cleaved peptides are analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The flow cell channels consist of two parallel gold surfaces mounted face to face with a thin spacer and feature an inlet and an outlet port. Proteoliposomes (50-150 nm in diameter) obtained from red blood cells (RBC), or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, were immobilized on the inside of the flow cell channel, thus forming a stationary phase of proteoliposomes. The rate of proteoliposome immobilization was determined using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) which showed that 95% of the proteoliposomes bind within 5 min. The flow cell was found to bind a maximum of 1 μg proteoliposomes/cm(2), and a minimum proteoliposome concentration required for saturation of the flow cell was determined to be 500 μg/mL. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies showed an even distribution of immobilized proteoliposomes on the surface. The liquid encapsulated between the surfaces has a large surface-to-volume ratio, providing rapid material transfer rates between the liquid phase and the stationary phase. We characterized the hydrodynamic properties of the flow cell, and the force acting on the proteoliposomes during flow cell operation was estimated to be in the range of 0.1-1 pN, too small to cause any proteoliposome deformation or rupture. A sequential proteolytic protocol, repeatedly exposing proteoliposomes to a digestive enzyme, trypsin, was developed and compared with a single-digest protocol. The sequential protocol was found to detect ~65% more unique membrane-associated protein (p < 0.001, n = 6) based on peptide analysis with LC-MS/MS, compared to a single-digest protocol. Thus, the flow cell described herein is a suitable tool for shotgun proteomics on proteoliposomes, enabling more detailed characterization of complex protein samples.

A giant liposome for single-molecule observation of conformational changes in membrane proteins

We present an experimental system that allows visualization of conformational changes in membrane proteins at the single-molecule level. The target membrane protein is reconstituted in a giant liposome for independent control of the aqueous environments on the two sides of the membrane. For direct observation of conformational changes, an extra-liposomal site(s) of the target protein is bound to a glass surface, and a probe that is easily visible under a microscope, such as a micron-sized plastic bead, is attached to another site on the intra-liposomal side. A conformational change, or an angular motion in the tiny protein molecule, would manifest as a visible motion of the probe. The attachment of the protein on the glass surface also immobilizes the liposome, greatly facilitating its manipulation such as the probe injection. As a model system, we reconstituted ATP synthase (F(O)F(1)) in liposomes tens of mum in size, attached the protein specifically to a glass surface, and demonstrated its ATP-driven rotation in the membrane through the motion of a submicron bead.

Detection of ligand-receptor binding using microfluidic frontal affinity chromatography on proteoliposomes derived directly from native cell membranes.

A method for characterization of ligand binding to membrane receptors in their native cell membrane is presented. The methodology is based on microfluidic frontal affinity chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (FAC-MS). Proteoliposomes with receptor of interest are prepared directly from cell membranes and serve as a stationary phase in a microfluidic flow cell for frontal analysis. The G-Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Ste2 involved in the pheromone-induced yeast mating pathway is used as a model receptor for proof of principle characterization. The ligand affinity of the natural pheromone peptide, the α-factor, is compared to a set of pheromone analogs having different receptor affinities. With short preparation time, preserved lipid composition and the ability to immobilize proteoliposomes from any cell membrane, we propose that our methodology with immobilized proteoliposomes together with microfluidics FAC-MS can be an important improvement for ligand-receptor studies in native membranes.

Membrane Protein Digestion – Comparison of LPI HexaLane with Traditional Techniques

Membrane protein profiling and characterization is of immense importance for the understanding of vital processes taking place across cellular membranes. Traditional techniques used for soluble proteins, such as 2D gel electrophoresis, are sometimes not entirely applicable to membrane protein targets, due to their low abundance and hydrophobic character. New tools have been developed that will accelerate research on membrane protein targets. Lipid-based protein immobilization (LPI) is the core technology in a new approach that enables immobilization and digestion of native membrane proteins inside a flow cell format. The presented method is described in the context of comparing the method to traditional approaches where the sample amount that is digested and analyzed is the same.