Development of conformational BRET biosensors that monitor Ezrin, Radixin and Moesin activation in real-time

SUMMARY Ezrin, Radixin and Moesin compose the family of ERM proteins. They link actin and microtubule filaments to the plasma membrane to control signaling and cell morphogenesis. Importantly, their activity promotes invasive properties of metastatic cells from different cancer origins. Therefore, a precise understanding of how these proteins are regulated is important for the understanding of the mechanism controlling cell shape as well as providing new opportunities for the development of innovative cancer therapies. ERMs are believed to exist in two main conformational states: a close-inactive conformation in the cytoplasm that is recruited at the plasma membrane to convert into an open-active conformation. Here, we developed and characterized novel BRET-based conformational biosensors, compatible with high throughput screening, that monitor Ezrin, Radixin or Moesin individual activation in living cells. We showed that these biosensors faithfully monitor ERM activation and can be used to quantify the impact of small molecules, mutation of regulatory amino acids or depletion of upstream regulators on their activity. The use of these biosensors allowed us to uncover a novel aspect of ERM activation process involving a pool of closed-inactive ERMs stably associated with the plasma membrane. Upon stimulation, this pool serves as a cortical reserve that is rapidly activated before the recruitment of cytoplasmic ERMs.