Identification of covalent modifications regulating immune signaling complex composition and phenotype

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Annika Frauenstein
  • Stefan Ebner
  • Fynn M Hansen
  • Ankit Sinha
  • Kshiti Phulphagar
  • Kirby Swatek
  • Daniel Hornburg
  • Mann, Matthias
  • Felix Meissner

Cells signal through rearrangements of protein communities governed by covalent modifications and reversible interactions of distinct sets of proteins. A method that identifies those post-transcriptional modifications regulating signaling complex composition and functional phenotypes in one experimental setup would facilitate an efficient identification of novel molecular signaling checkpoints. Here, we devised modifications, interactions and phenotypes by affinity purification mass spectrometry (MIP-APMS), comprising the streamlined cloning and transduction of tagged proteins into functionalized reporter cells as well as affinity chromatography, followed by MS-based quantification. We report the time-resolved interplay of more than 50 previously undescribed modification and hundreds of protein-protein interactions of 19 immune protein complexes in monocytes. Validation of interdependencies between covalent, reversible, and functional protein complex regulations by knockout or site-specific mutation revealed ISGylation and phosphorylation of TRAF2 as well as ARHGEF18 interaction in Toll-like receptor 2 signaling. Moreover, we identify distinct mechanisms of action for small molecule inhibitors of p38 (MAPK14). Our method provides a fast and cost-effective pipeline for the molecular interrogation of protein communities in diverse biological systems and primary cells.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMolecular Systems Biology
Volume17
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)e10125
ISSN1744-4292
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

© 2021 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

ID: 276700595