Mapping kinase domain resistance mechanisms for the MET receptor tyrosine kinase via deep mutational scanning

Gabriella O Estevam1,2, Edmond Linossi3,4, Jingyou Rao5

  • 1Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.

Elife
|February 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study profiles MET kinase domain mutations against 11 inhibitors to identify resistance and sensitivity patterns. Findings aid precision medicine by predicting effective treatments for MET-driven cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Mutations in the MET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase drive cancer and treatment resistance.
  • Personalized medicine requires matching inhibitors to specific MET mutational profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively profile MET kinase domain variants against MET inhibitors.
  • To identify resistance and sensitizing mutations for various MET inhibitors.
  • To improve predictive models for MET-targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Deep mutational scanning of ~5764 MET kinase domain variants.
  • Testing mutation growth against 11 MET kinase domain inhibitors.
  • Augmenting a protein language model with biophysical and chemical features.

Main Results:

  • Validated known MET inhibitor resistance mutations.
  • Identified common resistance sites across different inhibitor types (I, II, I ½).
  • Discovered unique resistance and sensitizing mutations for individual inhibitors.
  • Verified non-cross-resistant sensitivities for type I and type II inhibitor combinations.
  • Enhanced a protein language model for predicting inhibitor efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Developed a pooled experimental pipeline for identifying MET inhibitor resistance mutations.
  • Created a reference dictionary of mutations sensitive to specific MET-targeted therapies.
  • Provided insights for developing next-generation MET inhibitors and personalized cancer treatments.