Presented by

Dr. Bernd Wollscheid

The molecular nanoscale organization of the surfaceome is a fundamental regulator of cellular signaling in health and disease. Technologies for mapping the spatial relationships of cell surface receptors and their extracellular signaling synapses would unlock theranostic opportunities to target protein communities and the possibility to engineer extracellular signaling. At the WCM-Q Proteomics Conference 2023 I will describe the development and application of an optoproteomic technology termed LUX-MS that enables the targeted elucidation of acute protein interactions on and in between living cells using light-controlled singlet oxygen generators (SOGs). By using SOG-coupled antibodies, small molecule drugs, biologics and intact viral particles, I will demonstrate the ability of LUX-MS to decode ligand receptor interactions across organisms and to discover surfaceome receptor nanoscale organization with direct implications for drug action. LUX-MS based decoding of surfaceome signaling architectures thereby provides a molecular framework for the rational development of theranostic strategies. Staying at the surfaceome level, I will discuss further how the vaccinia virus hijacks host signaling networks to gain control over extracellular signaling.