Sokolov is at it again!!

The difference in cell surface properties have made it possible to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells. Scientists have identified a critical difference between the mechanical properties of normal and cancer cells by variation in brushes or tiny hairs on the cell surface. The discovery, suggests new considerations when studying cancerous cells using the atomic force microscope-- a high-resolution microscope commonly used to study morphology and mechanics of cells (as pictured--personally, I think it looks like a sewing machine).



It is well known that cancerous cells have different mechanical and adhesion properties from normal cells, but the reasons for this have so far been unclear(if you switch the "n" and the "u" it spells nuclear...just something I noticed).

microvilli--micro ridges and tiny hairs (in addtion, observed on the plasma surface of eggs, aiding in the anchoring of sperm cells that have penetrated the extracellular coat of egg cells) clustering of elongated microtubules around a sperm allows for it to be drawn closer and held firmly so fusion can occur. These are the main components of brushes on the cell surface. These are important for interacting with the external environment. Sokolov and colleagues processed force measurements by using this microscope to show quantitatively that cancerous cells are different. Normal cells have brushes of one length, whereas cancerous cells have mostly two brush lengths of significantly different densities--mass per unit volume

The authors suggest that the difference in the brush layers may have a biological significance and should be considered when characterizing cells by mechanical methods using the atomic force microscope.

The results imply that the brush layer cannot be ignored.

Which, if I remember correctly these were previously ignored in other very important recent projects when characterizing cells by mechanical methods. For example studies on the tie of emphysema to lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and exercise- induced asthma.

Igor Sokolov is not to be confused with the sport shooter from the Soviet Union in the 1980 summer olymics.

Updates will follow with upon more publishings for these findings...jtlyk.