Labeling Cell Surface Receptors with Ligand.BirA* Bispecifics

BirA*, a mutant form of the biotinylating enzyme BirA, can nonspecifically biotinylate epsilon-amino groups on lysines of proteins. Based on the promiscuous labeling nature of BirA*, plasmids expressing fusion constructs of BirA* to a given ligand have been used to transfect eukaryotic cells, leading to the biotinylation of intracellular proteins interacting or in close proximity to such Ligand.BirA* constructs. Mass spectrometry performed on the recovered biotinylated partners allows one to map intracellular protein interactors, a technique known as BioID. In contrast, the expression and purification of recombinant Ligand.BirA* constructs could serve as a powerful tool for labeling and detecting cell surface receptors. Here, we report the design and expression of recombinant Affibody.BirA* constructs, ZEGFR:1907.BirA* and ZHER2:243.BirA*, as protein bispecifics able to biotinylate their respective receptors EGFR and HER2 on the surface of MDA-MB-231 (EGFR+, EpCaM+, and CD44+) and SK-OV-3 (HER2++, EGFR+, EpCaM+, and CD44+) cancer cells. These Affibody.BirA* constructs retain both their BirA* enzymatic activity as well as their receptor-binding function. Importantly, MDA-MB-231 and SK-OV-3 cells biotinylated with Affibody.BirA* constructs did label their receptors EGFR and HER2 but did not biotinylate irrelevant antigens such as EpCaM or CD44 present on the surface of both cell lines. Ligand.BirA* bispecifics may represent a promising class of agents to identify unknown receptors on cell surfaces.

Automated summary

BirA* constructs can nonspecifically label proteins and identify intracellular protein interactors. Recombinant Affibody.BirA* constructs can be used to label and detect cell surface receptors.