A Platform To Enhance Quantitative Single Molecule Localization Microscopy

J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Oct 10;140(40):12785-12797. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b04939. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Abstract

Quantitative single molecule localization microscopy (qSMLM) is a powerful approach to study in situ protein organization. However, uncertainty regarding the photophysical properties of fluorescent reporters can bias the interpretation of detected localizations and subsequent quantification. Furthermore, strategies to efficiently detect endogenous proteins are often constrained by label heterogeneity and reporter size. Here, a new surface assay for molecular isolation (SAMI) was developed for qSMLM and used to characterize photophysical properties of fluorescent proteins and dyes. SAMI-qSMLM afforded robust quantification. To efficiently detect endogenous proteins, we used fluorescent ligands that bind to a specific site on engineered antibody fragments. Both the density and nano-organization of membrane-bound epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR, HER2, and HER3) were determined by a combination of SAMI, antibody engineering, and pair-correlation analysis. In breast cancer cell lines, we detected distinct differences in receptor density and nano-organization upon treatment with therapeutic agents. This new platform can improve molecular quantification and can be developed to study the local protein environment of intact cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbocyanines / chemistry*
  • Cell Line
  • ErbB Receptors / analysis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / analysis*
  • Single Molecule Imaging / methods*
  • Trastuzumab / chemistry

Substances

  • Alexa Fluor 647
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ERBB3 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, ErbB-3
  • Trastuzumab