New technique sees ‘velcro’ in skin, can help stop cancer

Researchers in Germany have successfully taken three-dimensional scans of human tissue using a new technique that could help provide clues to stop the deadly spread of cancer.

Seeing proteins in their natural environment and interactions inside cells has been a long-standing goal. Using an advanced microscopy technique called cryo-electron tomography, researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) have visualised proteins responsible for cell-cell contacts for the first time.

In the journal Nature, they published the first 3-D image of human skin at molecular resolution and revealed the molecular velcro-like organisation that interlinks cells.

"This is a real breakthrough," said Achilleas Frangakis, group leader at EMBL.

"Never before has it been possible to look in three dimensions at a tissue so close to its native state at such a high resolution."

A 'cool' technique

Frangakis and his group have been developing a technique with which a cell or tissue is instantly frozen in its natural state and then examined with an electron microscope.

Electron microscopy normally requires tissue to be treated with chemicals or coated in metal, a procedure that disturbs the natural state of a sample.

With cryo-electron tomography, images are taken of the untreated sample from different directions and assembled into an accurate 3-D image by a computer.

The researchers applied this technique to observe proteins that are crucial for the integrity of tissues and organs like the skin and the heart.

These proteins, called cadherins, are anchored in cell membranes and interact with each other to bring cells close together and interlink them tightly.

"(The images) revealed where the strength of human skin comes from," said Ashraf al-Amoudi, who carried out the work in Frangakis' lab.

"The system works a bit like specialised velcro and establishes very tight contacts between cells." The new insights broaden the understanding of structural aspects of cell adhesion and shed light on other crucial cell processes.