Lysosomal probes stratify melanoma tumor cells into two distinct populations.

A lysosomal tracker probe distinguishes melanoma tumor cells into a Nestin+ and Nestin- population. The NES+ population was defined as MERTK-.but AXL+, MITFlo, Sox5+, GYPClo and CD96+. The NES+ population was ALDH1A3+. GPRC5A and GPRC5B distinguished the populations with a high degree of specificity. The NES- population was cycling and CDK2+ and CDK6+, expressed MYC and was actively undergoing EMT evidenced by SNAI2 enrichment. The NES+ population was lL24+ dhole the NES- population was CXCL1. Consistent with described function for nestin in coordination of migratory and invasive tumor functions (dissemination) in conjunction with Ephrin family guidance receptors, the NES+ population was Epha2+.