Brain Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Brain Cancer, including details on symptoms, benign and malignant tumors, gliomas, treatment.

The interactions of aurein 1.2 with cancer cell membranes.

Dennison SR, Harris F, Phoenix DA

Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.

Here, the interactions of aurein 1.2, a defence peptide, with T98G glioblastoma cell membranes are studied. The peptide induced maximal surface pressure changes of circa 9 mN m(-1) in monolayers of endogenous T98G membrane lipid. Reducing monolayer anionic lipid showed a positive correlation (R(2)>0.91) with decreases in maximal surface pressure changes induced by aurein 1.2 (circa 3 mN m(-1) in the absence of this lipid). Cancer cell membrane invasion by the peptide therefore appears not to be mediated by lipid receptors or specific lipid requirements but rather a general requirement for anionic lipid and/or other negatively charged membrane components.

Published 5 March 2007 in Biophys Chem, 127(1): 78-83.
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