Copper distribution in breast cancer cells detected by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry with delayed extraction methodology
Journal article, 2018

Copper (Cu) is an essential transition metal ion that acts as a cofactor in many key enzymes. Cu is also needed for several hallmarks of cancer, and many copper-binding proteins are upregulated in various cancers. However, Cu-dependent cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways involved in cancer progression are not known. Fundamental to a better understanding of such phenomena is the investigation of the Cu subcellular distribution in cancer cells. The authors here show that Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry combined with delayed extraction can be successfully applied to probe Cu localization in fixed MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells providing subcellular resolution. Interestingly, the authors find Cu to be accumulated at nuclear regions of the cancer cells. Published by the AVS.

Author

Stephanie Blockhuys

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology

Per Malmberg

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Pernilla Wittung Stafshede

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology

Biointerphases

19348630 (ISSN) 15594106 (eISSN)

Vol. 13 6 06E412

Subject Categories

Cell Biology

Medical Biotechnology (with a focus on Cell Biology (including Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy)

Cancer and Oncology

DOI

10.1116/1.5053814

PubMed

30577697

More information

Latest update

1/24/2019