Raman-guided subcellular pharmaco-metabolomics for metastatic melanoma cells

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 24;11(1):4830. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18376-x.

Abstract

Non-invasively probing metabolites within single live cells is highly desired but challenging. Here we utilize Raman spectro-microscopy for spatial mapping of metabolites within single cells, with the specific goal of identifying druggable metabolic susceptibilities from a series of patient-derived melanoma cell lines. Each cell line represents a different characteristic level of cancer cell de-differentiation. First, with Raman spectroscopy, followed by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy and transcriptomics analysis, we identify the fatty acid synthesis pathway as a druggable susceptibility for differentiated melanocytic cells. We then utilize hyperspectral-SRS imaging of intracellular lipid droplets to identify a previously unknown susceptibility of lipid mono-unsaturation within de-differentiated mesenchymal cells with innate resistance to BRAF inhibition. Drugging this target leads to cellular apoptosis accompanied by the formation of phase-separated intracellular membrane domains. The integration of subcellular Raman spectro-microscopy with lipidomics and transcriptomics suggests possible lipid regulatory mechanisms underlying this pharmacological treatment. Our method should provide a general approach in spatially-resolved single cell metabolomics studies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipid Droplets
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipidomics
  • Lipids
  • Melanoma / metabolism*
  • Metabolomics / methods*
  • Microscopy / methods*
  • Oleic Acid
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Lipids
  • Oleic Acid
  • SCD1 protein, human
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase