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Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases and central players in health and disease. Following ligand binding and the formation of homo- and heteromeric complexes, FGFRs initiate a cellular response. Challenges in studying FGFR activation are inner-subfamily interactions and a complex heterogeneity of these in the cell membrane, which demand for observation techniques that can resolve individual protein complexes and that are compatible with endogenous protein levels. Here, we established an imaging and analysis pipeline for multiplexed single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) of the FGFR network at the plasma membrane. Using DNA-labeled primary antibodies, we visualize all four FGFRs in the same cell with near-molecular spatial resolution. From the super-resolution imaging data, we extract information on FGFR density, spatial distribution, and inner-subfamily colocalization. Our approach is straightforward and easily adaptable to other multiplexed SMLM data of membrane proteins.

Knowledge of how proteins organize into functional complexes is essential to understand their biological function. Optical super-resolution techniques provide the spatial resolution necessary to visualize and to investigate individual protein complexes in the context of their cellular environment. Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) builds on the detection of single fluorophore labels, which next to the generation of high-resolution images provides access to quantitative molecular information. We developed various tools for quantitative SMLM (qSMLM), an imaging method that both super-resolves individual protein clusters and reports on molecular numbers by analyzing the kinetics of single emitter blinking. This method is compatible with both fluorescent proteins and organic fluorophores. With qSMLM, we quantify protein copy numbers in single clusters, and we study how changes in the stoichiometry of protein complexes translates into function.

Knowledge of assembly, subunit architecture and dynamics of membrane proteins in a cellular context is essential to infer their biological function. Optical super-resolution techniques provide the necessary spatial resolution to study these properties of membrane protein complexes in the context of their cellular environment. Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is particularly well suited, as next to high-resolution images, it provides quantitative information on the detection of single emitters. A challenge for current super-resolution methods is to resolve individual protein subunits within a densely packed protein cluster. For this purpose, we developed quantitative SMLM (qSMLM), which reports on molecular numbers by analyzing the kinetics of single emitter blinking. Next to theoretical models for various photophysical schemes, we demonstrate this method for a selection of fluorescent proteins and synthetic dyes and a selection of membrane proteins. We next applied this tool to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and found a ligand-specific formation of monomeric or dimeric receptors. Next to fluorescent proteins, DNA-PAINT offers a novel and flexible approach for quantitative super-resolution microscopy. We demonstrate DNA-PAINT imaging of structurally defined DNA origami structures and robust quantification of target sites, as well as of membrane receptors. Molecular quantification, together with experiments following single receptor mobilities in live cells, will enlighten molecular mechanisms of receptor activation.

Fluorescence methods are important tools in modern biology. Direct labeling of biomolecules with a fluorophore might, however, change interaction surfaces. Here, we introduce a competitive binding assay in combination with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy that reports binding affinities of both labeled and unlabeled biomolecules to their binding target. We investigated how fluorophore labels at different positions of a DNA oligonucleotide affect hybridization to a complementary oligonucleotide and found dissociation constants varying within 2 orders of magnitude. We next demonstrated that placing a fluorophore label at position Leu280 in the protein ligand internalin B does not alter the binding affinity to the MET receptor tyrosine kinase, compared to unlabeled internalin B. Our approach is simple to implement and can be applied to investigate the influence of fluorophore labels in a large variety of biomolecular interactions.

Summary Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) reports on protein organization in cells with near-molecular resolution and in combination with stoichiometric labeling enables protein counting. Fluorescent proteins allow stoichiometric labeling of cellular proteins; however, most methods either lead to overexpression or are complex and time demanding. We introduce CRISPR/Cas12a for simple and efficient tagging of endogenous proteins with a photoactivatable protein for quantitative SMLM and single-particle tracking. We constructed a HEK293T cell line with the receptor tyrosine kinase MET tagged with mEos4b and demonstrate full functionality. We determine the oligomeric state of MET with quantitative SMLM and find a reorganization from monomeric to dimeric MET upon ligand stimulation. In addition, we measured the mobility of single MET receptors in vivo in resting and ligand-treated cells. The combination of CRISPR/Cas12a-assisted endogenous protein labeling and super-resolution microscopy represents a powerful tool for cell biological research with molecular resolution., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • CRISPR/Cas12a enables endogenous protein labeling for super-resolution microscopy • HEK293T cells were generated with MET endogenously labeled with mEos4b • Quantitative PALM microscopy reports efficient dimerization of MET receptor • Single-particle tracking shows increased MET immobilization upon ligand treatment, Biochemistry; Molecular Biology; Biophysics; Biological Sciences Research Methodologies

The dynamics of biomolecules in the plasma membrane is of fundamental importance to understanding cellular processes. Cellular signaling often starts with extracellular ligand binding to a membrane receptor, which then transduces an intracellular signal. Ligand binding and receptor-complex activation often involve a complex rearrangement of proteins in the membrane, which results in changes in diffusion properties. Two widely used methods to characterize biomolecular diffusion are single-particle tracking (SPT) and imaging total internal reflection fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (ITIR-FCS). Here, we compare the results of recovered diffusion coefficients and mean-square displacements of the two methods by simulations of free, domain-confined, or meshwork diffusion. We introduce, to our knowledge, a new method for the determination of confinement radii from ITIR-FCS data. We further establish and demonstrate simultaneous SPT/ITIR-FCS for direct comparison within living cells. Finally, we compare the results obtained by SPT and ITIR-FCS for the receptor tyrosine kinase MET. Our results show that SPT and ITIR-FCS yield complementary information on diffusion properties of biomolecules in cell membranes.

The human MET receptor tyrosine kinase contributes to vertebrate development and cell proliferation. As a proto-oncogene, it is a target in cancer therapies. MET is also relevant for bacterial infection by Listeria monocytogenes and is activated by the bacterial protein internalin B. The processes of ligand binding, receptor activation, and the diffusion behavior of MET within the plasma membrane as well as its interconnections with various cell components are not fully understood. We investigated the receptor diffusion dynamics using single-particle tracking and imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and elucidated mobility states of resting and internalin B-bound MET. We show that internalin B-bound MET exhibits lower diffusion coefficients and diffuses in a more confined area in the membrane. We report that the fraction of immobile receptors is larger for internalin B-bound receptors than for resting MET. Results of single-particle tracking in cells treated with various cytotoxins depleting cholesterol from the membrane and disrupting the actin cytoskeleton and microtubules suggest that cholesterol and actin influence MET diffusion dynamics, while microtubules do not have any effect.