Nanoscale organization of human GnRH-R on human bladder cancer cells.
Human gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R; or type I GnRH-R), which is expressed in tumor cells, has gained more and more attention as a specific target for cancer therapy. Given the clinical utility, the improved characterization of both the subcellular distribution and surface organization of GnRH-R is an important step in the development of more effective and possibly new therapeutic strategies. In the present study, the nano-organization of human GnRH-R was analyzed on fixed human bladder cancer cells (T24) by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The recognition images reveal that GnRH-Rs have a tendency to assemble in nanodomains (or clusters) that are irregularly distributed on the T24 cell surface. The locations of the GnRH-Rs were identified on the topographical images with nanometer accuracy. The obtained results enrich our understanding of the local distribution of GnRH-Rs on the bladder cancer cell membrane and demonstrate the ability of biological AFM to provide more complete and exact information at the single molecule level.
State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science , Changchun 130022, P.R. China.
Jing
J
Zhang
Lilia A
LA
Chtcheglova
Rong
R
Zhu
Peter
P
Hinterdorfer
Bailin
B
Zhang
Jilin
J
Tang
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000378:metabolism*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D011966:Receptors, LHRH