This research introduces OpenCell, a comprehensive resource developed through high-throughput CRISPR-mediated genome editing to map the architecture of the human proteome. The project generated 1310 fluorescently tagged human cell lines, enabling live-cell imaging of protein localization and immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) to characterize protein interactions. By combining these advanced experimental techniques with unsupervised machine learning for image analysis, the researchers created a vast dataset that offers insights into individual protein functions and the general organizational principles of human cells. Notably, the study revealed that RNA binding proteins form a distinct subgroup defined by specific localization and interaction signatures, highlighting the intricate relationship between a protein's spatial distribution and its cellular function. The open source data is accessible via an interactive web interface, facilitating further exploration and discovery in cell biology.

References:

• Cho N H, Cheveralls K C, Brunner A D, et al. OpenCell: Endogenous tagging for the cartography of human cellular organization[J]. Science, 2022, 375(6585): eabi6983.