Multiplexed Isobaric Quantitative Cross-Linking Reveals Drug-Induced Interactome Changes in Breast Cancer Cells

Anal Chem. 2022 Feb 15;94(6):2713-2722. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02208. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

Abstract

The study of protein structures and interactions is critical to understand their function. Chemical cross-linking of proteins with mass spectrometry (XL-MS) is a rapidly developing structural biology technique able to provide valuable insight into protein conformations and interactions, even as they exist within their native cellular environment. Quantitative analysis of cross-links can reveal protein conformational and interaction changes that occur as a result of altered biological states, environmental conditions, or pharmacological perturbations. Our laboratory recently developed an isobaric quantitative protein interaction reporter (iqPIR) cross-linking strategy for comparative interactome studies. This strategy relies on isotope encoded chemical cross-linkers that have the same molecular mass yet produce unique and specific isotope signatures upon fragmentation in the mass spectrometer which can be used for quantitative analysis of cross-linked peptides. The initial set of iqPIR molecules allowed for binary comparisons. Here, we describe the in vivo application of an extended set of six iqPIR reagents (6-plex iqPIR), allowing multiplexed quantitative interactome analysis of up to six biological samples in a single LC-MS acquisition. Multiplexed iqPIR is demonstrated on MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with five different Hsp90 inhibitors revealing large scale protein conformational and interaction changes specific to the molecular class of the inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proteins / analysis

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Peptides
  • Proteins