I have developed an peptide with machine learning that targets receptors vegfr1, vegfr2, and vegfr3. I plan to test its binding specificity on each receptor and measure the downstream effects in a cell line
Identifying a cell line that expresses VEGFR3 exclusively or with very low expression of VEGFR2 and VEGFR1 can be challenging, as many cell lines express multiple VEGF receptors. However, here are some approaches to help you identify suitable cell lines:
Cell surface protein expression analysis: Use flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy to analyze the cell surface expression of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 in various cell lines. This will help you identify cell lines with high expression of VEGFR3 and low expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2.
qRT-PCR analysis: Perform quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 in different cell lines. This will give you an idea about the relative expression levels of these receptors in each cell line.
Database mining: Utilize online databases such as ArrayExpress, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), or Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) to explore gene expression profiles of various cell lines. You can use tools like GEO2R or limma to compare the expression levels of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 across different cell lines.
Knockdown or knockout experiments: Consider performing knockdown or knockout experiments using CRISPR-Cas9 or shRNAs to specifically silence VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in cell lines that express these receptors. This will allow you to evaluate the effect of VEGFR3 expression in the absence of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2.
Use cell lines with known VEGF-A/VEGFR interactions: Some cancer cell lines, such as HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) and HMVEC (human microvascular endothelial cells), are known to express high levels of VEGFR3 and have been shown to interact with VEGF-A. You may also consider using cell lines that have been engineered to overexpress VEGFR3.
Screening assays: Develop or utilize existing screening assays that measure the binding affinity of your peptide to VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3. This will enable you to identify cell lines with high binding affinity for your peptide, indicating strong expression of VEGFR3 and potentially low expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2.
Combinatorial approaches: Combine the above approaches to increase the confidence in identifying cell lines that meet your criteria. For example, you could first narrow down your options by analyzing gene expression profiles from online databases, followed by validating the expression levels using qRT-PCR or flow cytometry.
Validation with orthogonal methods: Once you have identified potential cell lines, validate their expression profiles using orthogonal methods such as western blotting or immunofluorescence staining. This will provide further confirmation of VEGFR expression levels and help rule out any discrepancies due to technical variations.
Test your peptide: Finally, test the binding specificity of your peptide on the shortlisted cell lines using techniques such as flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, or surface plasmon resonance. This will help you determine the most suitable cell line(s) for your studies.
Remember that it is crucial to carefully evaluate and validate the expression profiles of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 in the selected cell lines to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your results.