Cell-specific information processing in segregating populations of Eph receptor ephrin-expressing cells

Science. 2009 Dec 11;326(5959):1502-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1176615.

Abstract

Cells have self-organizing properties that control their behavior in complex tissues. Contact between cells expressing either B-type Eph receptors or their transmembrane ephrin ligands initiates bidirectional signals that regulate cell positioning. However, simultaneously investigating how information is processed in two interacting cell types remains a challenge. We implemented a proteomic strategy to systematically determine cell-specific signaling networks underlying EphB2- and ephrin-B1-controlled cell sorting. Quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of mixed populations of EphB2- and ephrin-B1-expressing cells that were labeled with different isotopes revealed cell-specific tyrosine phosphorylation events. Functional associations between these phosphotyrosine signaling networks and cell sorting were established with small interfering RNA screening. Data-driven network modeling revealed that signaling between mixed EphB2- and ephrin-B1-expressing cells is asymmetric and that the distinct cell types use different tyrosine kinases and targets to process signals induced by cell-cell contact. We provide systems- and cell-specific network models of contact-initiated signaling between two distinct cell types.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Algorithms
  • Cell Line
  • Ephrin-B1 / genetics
  • Ephrin-B1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Models, Biological
  • PDZ Domains
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proteomics
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptor, EphB2 / genetics
  • Receptor, EphB2 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Ephrin-B1
  • Ligands
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tyrosine
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, EphB2