Inference of cell cycle-dependent proteolysis by laser scanning cytometry

Exp Cell Res. 2009 Jun 10;315(10):1772-8. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.01.011. Epub 2009 Jan 27.

Abstract

Mechanisms that couple protein turnover to cell cycle progression are critical for coordinating the events of cell duplication and division. Despite the importance of cell cycle-regulated proteolysis, however, technologies to measure this phenomenon are limited, and typically involve monitoring cells that are released back into the cell cycle after synchronization. We describe here the use of laser scanning cytometry (LSC), a technical merger between fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, to determine cell cycle-dependent changes in protein stability in unperturbed, asynchronous, cultures of mammalian cells. In this method, the ability of the LSC to accurately measure whole cell fluorescence is employed, together with RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, to relate abundance of a particular RNA and protein in a cell to its point at the cell cycle. Parallel monitoring of RNA and protein levels is used, together with protein synthesis inhibitors, to reveal cell cycle-specific changes in protein turnover. We demonstrate the viability of this method by analyzing the proteolysis of two prominent human oncoproteins, Myc and Cyclin E, and argue that this LSC-based approach offers several practical advantages over traditional cell synchronization methods.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclin E / metabolism
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Laser Scanning Cytometry*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin E
  • F-Box Proteins
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • FBXW7 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases