Spatially-resolved Photoproximity Profiling of MYC Identifies a MYC-BAF Liability in Cancer Cells

Abstract

The c-MYC transcription factor is aberrantly expressed in most human cancers to enhance expression of proliferative gene programs. Owing to its pseudo-ordered structure and reliance on extensive and dynamic protein-protein interactions in distinct transcriptional regulatory complexes, defining context-specific MYC interactors has remained challenging. Therefore, mapping MYC-centered complex topologies in disease relevant models could identify components critical for its function which may serve as therapeutic targets in MYC-driven cancers. Here, we present a matched pair of photoproximity probes coupled with quantitative proteomics which enable context-dependent mapping of protein complex topology inside cells. We applied this spatially resolved, intracellular photoproximity (siPROX) profiling workflow to map MYC interactomes across temporal, spatial and disease-relevant contexts. Basal and inhibitor-treated profiles confirmed interactions with a wide range of known chromatin-associated transcriptional regulatory factors that define the extended MYC transcriptional bubble in live cells. Time-resolved mapping of inhibitor treated cells identified dynamic remodeling of numerous transcriptional regulatory factors and identified several BAF complex members (e.g., PBRM1 and SMARCC1)1 that persist in the presence of bromodomain inhibition. Furthermore, spatial MYC topology maps in small cell lung cancer cells confirmed the presence of BAF complex members under conditions where MYC induced target gene expression, altered cell morphology and enhanced proliferation. Lastly, loss of BAF function via inhibition of SMARCA2/4 ATPase activity resulted in rapid loss of chromatin-bound and nuclear MYC levels, downregulation of MYC-dependent transcripts and MYC-specific cell growth in several cancer cell models. Together, these data highlight the potential for siPROX to identify spatially resolved, dynamic TF interactors and highlight MYC-proximal BAF interactions as a targetable liability to regulate MYC-dependent transcription and proliferation.