Multiplexed Exchange-PAINT imaging reveals ligand-dependent EGFR and Met interactions in the plasma membrane

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 22;7(1):12150. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12257-y.

Abstract

Signal transduction by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) involves complex ligand- and time-dependent changes in conformation and modification state. High resolution structures are available for individual receptors dimers, but less is known about receptor clusters that form in plasma membranes composed of many different RTKs with the potential to interact. We report the use of multiplexed super-resolution imaging (Exchange-PAINT) followed by mean-shift clustering and random forest analysis to measure the precise distributions of five receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) from the ErbB, IGF-1R and Met families in breast cancer cells. We find that these receptors are intermixed nonhomogenously on the plasma membrane. Stimulation by EGF does not appear to induce a change in the density of EGFR in local clusters but instead results in formation of EGFR-Met and EGFR-ErbB3 associations; non-canonical EGFR-Met interactions are implicated in resistance to anti-cancer drugs but have not been previously detected in drug-naïve cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cricetulus
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / analysis
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Machine Learning
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods
  • Protein Interaction Maps*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / metabolism

Substances

  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Receptor, ErbB-3