In a groundbreaking study, researchers used Single Cell Proeomics to delve into the intricate world of single-cell proteomics during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This vital process influences various aspects of cell behavior and plays a crucial role in development, tissue repair, and disease progression. Unlike previous studies that focused on changes in cluster-average protein abundance, this research examined protein covariation across single cells, offering new insights into EMT regulation.

This work uncovers hidden biological regulation masked by conventional measurements and highlights the power of single-cell proteomics in understanding complex cellular processes.

The study exclusively utilized IonOpticks Odyssey Series columns, which provided the separation efficiency and retention time stability to support the LC-MS quantification of EMT-mediated changes in protein abundance in over 1,800 proteins across 420 single cells. Surprisingly, the analysis revealed that protein-protein correlations across single cells changed dynamically during EMT, even when the average protein abundance within cell clusters remained constant.

Published in BioRxiv, December 23, 2023

Authors

S. Khan; R. Conover; A. R. Asthagiri; N. Slavov

Title

Dynamics of single-cell protein covariation during epithelial–mesenchymal transition