Proteomics of protein trafficking by in vivo tissue-specific labeling

Nat Commun. 2021 Apr 22;12(1):2382. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22599-x.

Abstract

Conventional approaches to identify secreted factors that regulate homeostasis are limited in their abilities to identify the tissues/cells of origin and destination. We established a platform to identify secreted protein trafficking between organs using an engineered biotin ligase (BirA*G3) that biotinylates, promiscuously, proteins in a subcellular compartment of one tissue. Subsequently, biotinylated proteins are affinity-enriched and identified from distal organs using quantitative mass spectrometry. Applying this approach in Drosophila, we identify 51 muscle-secreted proteins from heads and 269 fat body-secreted proteins from legs/muscles, including CG2145 (human ortholog ENDOU) that binds directly to muscles and promotes activity. In addition, in mice, we identify 291 serum proteins secreted from conditional BirA*G3 embryo stem cell-derived teratomas, including low-abundance proteins with hormonal properties. Our findings indicate that the communication network of secreted proteins is vast. This approach has broad potential across different model systems to identify cell-specific secretomes and mediators of interorgan communication in health or disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Biotin / metabolism
  • Biotinylation
  • Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases / genetics
  • Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drosophila
  • Embryonic Stem Cells
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Protein Engineering
  • Protein Transport
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Staining and Labeling / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Teratoma / diagnosis
  • Teratoma / pathology

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Biotin
  • Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases
  • birA protein, E coli