The membrane of cancer cells is the new focus of cancer research after researchers found that cancer cells use a technique in which they eat damaged parts of their cell membrane.
In both healthy and cancer cells, the cell membrane protects the cells from life-threatening damage. Therefore, damage to the cell membrane must be immediately repaired.
The team published their study, titled "Restructuring of the plasma membrane upon damage by LC3-associated macropinocytosis," in Science Advances.
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According to SciTech Daily, the researchers intentionally damaged the cell membrane of cancer cells using a laser that created small holes and triggered a process in the cell that help them survive the damage.
Danish researchers from the University of Copenhagen showed in their study that cancer cells use the technique called macropinocytosis to pull the intact cell membrane in over the damaged area and seal the hole within a few minutes. Then the damaged part of the cell membrane is separated into small spheres, which are transported to its"stomach," known as the lysosomes.
Previous studies in the Danish Cancer society have only shown one technique in which cancer cells repair themselves, which is by tying off the damaged part, like when the lizard throws its injured tail.
Group leader Jesper Nylandsted from the Danish Cancer Society's Research Center and the University of Copenhagen said that their study has shown the basic knowledge of how cancer cells survive and how they could die of macropinocytosis is inhibited, pointing out that this could be the next focus on cancer research.
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Why Do Cancer Cells Eat the Damaged Cell Membrane
Cancer cells are essentially dangerous and difficult to treat because they can spread throughout the body and cause damage to healthy cells. However, they also become prone to membrane damage as they replicate inside the body, which could also help form treatment strategies that will hopefully stop cancer.
Laboratory experiments have shown that aggressive cancer cells use macropinocytosis to repair themselves and eat the damaged part in the process. Researchers think that this may be due to the fact that cancer cells could reuse the damaged membrane when it is broken down in the lysosomes.
According to an article in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, this is a type of recycling method that benefits cancer cells because they need large amounts of energy and material for new cells as they frequently divide.
Furthermore, they noted that the initial step of the macropinocytosis is the most critical process for the cancer cell's survival during cell restructuring. Macropinocytosis enables cells to cope with the damage to fully reestablish plasma membrane integrity and homeostasis.
The next step to their research is to find out how cells protect their membranes in connection with macropinocytosis. This will also include what happens next after the cell membranes are closed, as they believe it will need a lot more work to repair the membrane and could be another weak point for cancer cells.
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