Tag

Cell Membrane

All articles tagged with #cell membrane

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Membrane lipids can lock EGFR in constant growth mode, MIT study shows

MIT researchers show that the lipid makeup of the cell membrane can directly control the EGFR receptor: high levels of negatively charged lipids push EGFR into a permanently active state, driving continuous pro-growth signaling and cancer-like proliferation; cholesterol can dampen this signaling by making membranes stiffer. The study uses nanodiscs and single-molecule FRET to examine full-length EGFR behavior, suggesting new cancer therapies could target membrane lipids to neutralize EGFR activity.

via MIT News|

#cancer #cell-membrane #egfr

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Unfreezing the Mystery: How Antarctic Octopuses Brave Earth's Coldest Ocean"

Antarctic octopuses, specifically of the genus Pareledone, have been found to survive in the coldest waters on Earth by using their three hearts to pump a special type of blue blood around their bodies, supplying oxygen to tissues even in super-cold environments. These octopuses also possess "cold-adapted" enzymes that allow them to function at lower temperatures. Researchers have discovered that mutations in the amino acid sequence of a specific enzyme, the sodium-potassium pump, provide resistance to the cold and enable the pump to continue working at near-freezing temperatures. Further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms behind these adaptations.

via ScienceAlert|

#antarctic-octopuses #cell-membrane #cold-adaptation

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Decoding the Molecular Mechanism of Cell Death and Cancer Prevention.

Scientists from the University of Basel have discovered that a protein called ninjurin-1 assembles into filaments that work like a zipper and open the cell membrane, leading to the disintegration of the cell. The new insights are an important milestone in the understanding of cell death and will facilitate the search for novel drug targets to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

via SciTechDaily|

#cell-death #cell-membrane #drug-targets