Monday, 08 July 2019
Scientists have detected changes in electrical signals from different types of cancer cells, that could lead to the development of devices that can be sent to a tumour to ‘switch off’ the cells.
The research looked at how cells swap electrons in three different lung cancer cell lines and showed that the magnitude of the electrical current emitted by cancer cells is linked to the aggressive nature of cancer. This new understanding of how cancer cells use electrons could lead to new treatments that stop them growing by starving them of electrical energy.
Powered by electrons
Cells in the body are powered by electrons and they can also send electrons outside their membranes or outer shell along biological ‘tracks’ made of proteins and other molecules. This process is known as trans-plasma membrane electron transfer (tPMET) and this new research shows how it is linked to the growth of cancer cells.
Energy is mostly produced in the mitochondria of a cell but in a rapidly dividing cancer cell it can’t keep up with demand so the cell switches to a pathway call glycosis which converts sugar into energy. This reduction in output from the mitrochondria allows free electrons to build up inside the cell and clogs up the glycosis process. With cancer cells these extra electrons are shed through tPMET.
During the research cells were engineered to reduce the number of tPMET relays, which caused the mitochondria to lose energy forcing the cells to increase electrical output – a result which surprised the researchers.
A surprise finding
Dr Frankie Rawson, from the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy led the research explains why this is significant:
We expected to see a slowdown in electron transmission when the mitrochondria became overworked, but what we actually saw was the opposite with an increase in current with cells actually producing more electrons to combat the drop in energy.
This was a major, major finding for us because if you can inhibit that external electron transfer, the cells may have limited ways to sustain energy, so they’ll either be unable to grow and multiply, or they’ll die. Currently there are no drugs available that can interfere with tPMET, but this new research suggests that it coud be done another way.
The next phase for this research is to design ways to tweak the elecrical signalling in cancer cells and Andie Shaw and Dr Paola Sanjuan-Alberte, also at the University of Nottingham, with Rawson have been working on self-assembling nano-electrodes that could apply an electrical field to prevent a cell’s relays from shedding the electrons.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…