High Content Analysis of Proteins and Protein Interactions by Proximity Ligation

Fundamental to all biological processes is the interplay between biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Studies of interactions should therefore be more informative than mere detection of expressed proteins. Preferably, such studies should be performed in material that is as biologically and clinically relevant as possible, i.e. in primary cells and tissues. In addition, to be able to take into account the heterogeneity of such samples, the analyses should be performed in situ to retain information on the sub-cellular localization where the interactions occur, enabling determination of the activity status of individual cells and allowing discrimination between e.g. tumor cells and surrounding stroma. This requires assays with an utmost level of sensitivity and selectivity. Taking these issues into consideration, the in situ proximity-ligation assay (in situ PLA) was developed, providing localized detection of proteins, protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications in fixed cells and tissues. The high sensitivity and selectivity afforded by the assay's requirement for dual target recognition in combination with powerful signal amplification enables visualization of single protein molecules in intact single cells and tissue sections. To further increase the usefulness and application of in situ PLA, the assay was adapted to high content analysis techniques such as flow cytometry and high content screening. The use of in situ PLA in flow cytometry offers the possibility for high-throughput analysis of cells in solution with the unique characteristics offered by the assay. For high content screening, it was demonstrated that in situ PLA can enable cell-based drug screening of compounds affecting post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions in primary cells, offering superior abilities over current assays. The methods presented in this thesis provide powerful new tools to study proteins in genetically unmodified cells and tissues, and should offer exciting new possibilities for molecular biology, diagnostics and drug discovery.