Oncogenesis, lipids rafts and liquid crystals: A nanoscopic supplementary field for applied researches and a new hope of advances in cancer

Abstract

Liquid crystals (LC) are an intermediate state between an ordered crystalline solid and a more disordered liquid. LCs (or mesophases) are ubiquitous in living systems, optimizing multiple biological functions that could not operate in purely solid or liquid environments as both mobility and organization are needed. One of us recently suggested that there is an information vector, shared by neurodegenerative and infectious pathologies, to be found within lipid rafts in an ordered liquid (Lo) form mediated by cholesterol. Here we extend this underlying mechanism to oncogenic processes. The specificity of our approach lies in highlighting the direct involvement of liquid crystals in early carcinogenic processes, by identifying specific metabolic pathways, with the intention of focusing research effort on this level, now that this has become technically feasible. Exploring LCs in living bodies reveals links between numerous oncogenic mechanisms. The approach is based on the geometric properties of amphiphilic (hydrophilic and lipophilic) plasma and intracellular membranes, the phospholipids of which are an example of the lamellar LC phase. These LCs underlie cell signaling and signaling pathways disorders at membrane level: consequently, they are directly concerned with deregulation underlying many cancerous processes.We demonstrate the implication of cancer cell membranes mesophases. That is in the membranes mesophases that are initiated most of metabolic pathways, leading to downstream pathogenic intracellular mechanisms. The concepts of order and of symmetry, in the mathematical sense, involved in condensed matter accompany informed adaptive supramolecular chemical processes in forming self-organizing mesogenic molecular assemblies. Multidisciplinary teamwork combining knowledge from different fields holds out the hope of therapeutic progress upstream of irreversible cancerous processes, while conserving the physiological integrity of the cells themselves.

Cell mechanics and signalisation: SARS-CoV-2 hijacks membrane liquid crystals and cytoskeletal fractal topology

“…Notice that the membrane lipid imbalance has also been documented in the field of cancerology. The latter is increasingly understood as a signaling disease [16]. The same is true for many neurodegenerative pathologies and prionic conditions.…”

“…But more generally it seems important to recall a general behavior unifying membrane processes under pathogen invasion, also including early neurodegenerative, oncogenic or prionic processus and more generally metabolic phenomena. This broadened our understanding over all the spatiotemporal scales [15][16][17] of the fundamental mechanisms of cell life, which the virus hijacks as soon as it binds to the target for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The virus alters the inseparable complex of mechanical, electrochemical, genetic and epigenetic signaling.…”

Apoptosis Induction in Murine Melanoma (B16F10) Cells by Mannosylerythritol Lipids-B; a Glycolipid Biosurfactant with Antitumoral Activities

“…MEL-B self-assembles into the lamellar liquid crystal phase at a wide concentration range when hydrated [36]. This specific phase is related to cell signaling and disorders at cellular membrane levels and deregulates several cancerous processes [6].…”

Electrically Induced Hydrodynamic Effect in Nematics Caused by Volume Reduction

“…These types of materials also have structural similarities with some biological structures [5][6][7] and are, therefore, actively studied to identify the potential for biomedical applications. Another point that has to be mentioned is that liquid crystal-based researches also provide a better understanding of some physical processes (such as cell signaling [8]).…”