Activity based profiling of Phosphoprotein phosphatases in cancer using mass spectrometry-based proteomics


Year of Award:
2019
Status:
Complete
Award Type:
R33
Project Number:
CA225458
RFA Number:
RFA-CA-18-003
Technology Track:
Molecular & Cellular Analysis Technologies
PI/Project Leader:
KETTENBACH, ARMINJA NADINE
Other PI or Project Leader:
GERBER, SCOTT A.
Institution:
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

PROJECT SUMARRYTargeting dysregulated phosphorylation signaling by kinase inhibitors is a proven strategy and a focus in thedevelopment of anti-cancer treatments. However, variability in patient responses and drug resistance limitefficacy and often lead to therapy failure. The underlying mechanisms that determine drug efficacy aremultifaceted and include the drug target itself, as well as associated signaling pathways. For instance, mutationor amplification of the targeted kinase, functional compensation by related kinases, reprograming of kinasesignaling, and alterations in phosphatase signaling networks that antagonize substrate phosphorylation ordirectly modulate kinase activity are common.Tremendous progress has been made in deciphering the cancer kinome and its response to anti-cancertreatment. These studies were enabled by an array of innovative technologies, including a chemical proteomicsstrategy that utilizes kinase inhibitors immobilized on beads and mass spectrometry (MS).The majority of protein dephosphorylation is carried out by phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPPs). The PPPfamily consists of nine catalytic subunits that bind to regulatory and scaffolding subunits and assemble intohundreds of multi-subunit enzymes and function as distinct, selective signaling entities. Excitingly, the role andregulation of PPPs in cellular signaling in normal and cancerous tissue is beginning to emerge.While kinome profiling provides global information on phosphorylation reactions, no such technology exists forphosphatases; thus, we lack knowledge of the understudied, but equally important, dephosphorylation reactionin cancer. To address this gap in capability, we have established a chemical proteomics strategy called ?PIB-MS? for efficient affinity-capture, identification, and quantification of all endogenously expressed PPPs and theirassociated proteins (?PPPome?) in a single mass spectrometry analysis from limited protein amounts of cell,tissue, and tumor lysate. In this application, we further develop and mature this technology and assess itsperformance to identify and quantify the PPPome in breast cancer cell lines, upon perturbation by drug treatment,and breast cancer PDX tumor models, and in primary human breast cancer tumors. We will assess theperformance of this technology in an inter-laboratory comparison to achieve broad implementation.Statement of Potential Impact. PPPs have emerged as critical signaling entities in cancer. However, currentlyno approach exists for rapid, quantitative, and comprehensive assessment of the endogenous PPPome and itsdynamic changes associated with cellular stress, short- and long-term treatment with anti-cancer drugs, ordevelopment of drug resistance. PIB-MS is a highly innovative technology that provides these capabilities for theanalysis of cell lines, mouse models of disease, and primary human tumors. PIB-MS will accelerate and enhancethe molecular analysis of cancer in basic, translational, and clinical research through rapid and quantitativeanalysis of PPP signaling, its alterations, and its effects on compensatory pathways before, during, and afteranti-cancer treatment and upon development of resistance.