MIT chemists have found that changing the composition of the cell membrane can alter the function of EGFR, a cell receptor that promotes proliferation and is often overactive in cancer cells.

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MIT chemists have discovered that cell membranes play an active role in regulating receptor function, not just structural support. Using nanodiscs and single molecule FRET, they found that elevated levels of negatively charged lipids (around 60%) can lock the EGFR receptor into a permanently active state, driving uncontrolled cell proliferation even without its normal ligand. Elevated cholesterol, by contrast, increases membrane rigidity and suppresses EGFR signaling. These findings may open new avenues for cancer treatment by targeting membrane lipid composition to modulate EGFR activity.

MIT study reveals a new role for cell membranes