/ en Fri, 01 May 26 15:12:00 -0400 /news/single-molecule-tracker-illuminates-workings-cancer-related-proteins <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" 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href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 01 May 2026 19:12:00 +0000 leah@broadinstitute.org 5560441 at /news/clinical-trial-prion-disease-drug-candidate-begins-enrolling-participants <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" 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paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:35:55 +0000 jcolaros 5560386 at /news/massive-ancient-dna-study-reveals-natural-selection-has-accelerated-recent-human-evolution <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:45:53 +0000 Corie Lok 5560376 at /news/cancer-dependency-map-consortium-launches-phase-3-accelerate-next-generation-therapeutics <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:20:04 +0000 kzusi@broadinstitute.org 5560381 at /news/base-editing-repairs-mutation-and-liver-function-mouse-model-zellweger-spectrum-disorder <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000 jcolaros 5560371 at /news/leukemia-cells-use-sugar-coated-protein-hide-immune-system <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:36 +0000 Corie Lok 5560351 at /news/scalable-cell-imaging-method-could-help-make-drug-safety-testing-faster-cheaper <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:19:45 +0000 Corie Lok 5560336 at /news/malaria-transmitting-mosquitoes-south-america-are-evolving-evade-insecticides <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:46:57 +0000 tulrich@broadinstitute.org 5560321 at /news/new-view-viruses-body <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:01:43 +0000 jcolaros 5560291 at /news/how-inflammation-may-prime-gut-cancer <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Leah Eisenstadt</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Single-molecule tracker illuminates workings of cancer-related proteins</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">ӳ����ý scientists use their custom-built microscopy and nanotechnology to tag and follow the activity of individual proteins in real time, showing how it can reveal new biology.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Leah Eisenstadt </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-05-01T15:12:00-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2026 - 15:12" class="datetime">May 1, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=iiKBYm63 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=_x1O-NC2 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=t1Z2qsGa 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=Y86x_OM_ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/PengEGFR_main.png?itok=P1tQH5Cs" alt="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." title="A researcher wearing glasses and a lab coat looks into a large microscope in a dark room." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Allison Colorado, ӳ����ý Communications </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> Peng lab member and study co-first-author João Shida prepares to image nanoparticles using the lab's custom-built microscope. </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/rss/news-blog-feed&title=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog+/rss/news-blog-feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=RSS%20Feed%20News%20%2B%20Blog&body=/rss/news-blog-feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-with-sidebar text-with-sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--sidebar-menu sidebar-menu"> <div class="sidebar-menu__col"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Related</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.sampenglab.org/">Peng lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/videos/sam-peng-core-institute-member">Sam Peng video feature</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Using a powerful single-molecule imaging method they developed, a ӳ����ý research team has unveiled a dynamic view of how some cancer-related proteins interact in living cells. The technique relies on highly stable nanoparticle probes that brightly illuminate individual molecules for long periods of time. The researchers used their method to observe, for the first time, individual receptors as they move around the cell membrane, attaching to and then letting go of other receptors to alter signaling within the cell.</p> <p>Described in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995"><em>Cell</em></a>, the work demonstrates the method’s potential for investigating other receptors and molecules and for improved drug screening to better understand the effects of therapeutics on living cells.</p> <p>“With our photostable probes, we can map out the entire lifespan of these molecules in their native environment and see things that have never been observable before,” said study leader <a href="/node/1141681">Sam Peng</a>, a ӳ����ý core institute member and assistant professor of chemistry at MIT.</p> <h2>Molecular movies</h2> <p>Peng’s method solves a problem with existing contrast agents used in single-molecule tracking such as dyes. Under the laser light that’s used to excite these dyes, they burn out after a few seconds in a phenomenon known as photobleaching, which means that scientists could only use them to take a few snapshots of cell receptors and not follow them over the entirety of the signaling process.</p> <p>For a longer and richer view, Peng’s lab <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00207">developed long-lasting probes</a>, known as upconverting nanoparticles, which emit signals that remain stable under laser excitation. The nanoparticles contain rare-earth ions that continue to luminescence for minutes, hours, and potentially years. In addition, by altering the type and doses of the ions, scientists can engineer probes emitting in many different colors, enabling tracking of many targets in a single experiment.</p> <p>In the current study, the researchers aimed to uncover new biology by focusing on the EGFR family of cell receptors, which have been linked to several kinds of cancer. They collaborated with EGFR experts Matthew Meyerson and Heidi Greulich of the ӳ����ý’s Cancer Program. They knew that EGFR receptors need to pair up, or “dimerize,” in order to initiate signaling within the cell, but they wanted to learn more about the dynamics of these pairings — what the receptors partner with, how long they stay together, and how they find new partners.</p> <p>For a better and more sustained look at the receptors, the research team customized their upconverting nanoparticles to tag EGFR and related receptors HER2 and HER3, which are linked to cancer, and used them to track the molecules in living human cells.</p> <h2>A new view of protein pairings</h2> <p>In this study, Peng and his team observed that, when activated with a stimulating molecule, EGFR receptors can pair up and stay dimerized for several minutes, something not observable using traditional dyes. Excessive and prolonged dimerization can lead to too much cell growth and cancer.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=f2X2ZX6Y 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/EGFR_dimer_dissociation_8s_HighRes.gif?itok=Nt0F-_vc" alt="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." title="A video showing pink and green spots moving and combining to become a white spot on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A microscopy video shows upconverting nanoparticles tagged to EGFR receptors (labeled pink and green), which track individual receptors as they dimerize. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the EGFR molecules carried cancer-related mutations, the dimers became more stable, with the more stabilizing mutations linked to more potent cancers in people. In addition, the mutated receptors could form stable dimers even without an external stimulus prompting them to dimerize. The finding helps explain how EGFR mutations can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer and could inform efforts to target this process therapeutically.</p> <p>The team discovered several other new and surprising details about how HER2 and HER3 form stable pairings with themselves, which helps illuminate the role of these molecules in related cancers.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--image-text paragraph--view-mode--right"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-pt-image-text-left-right-"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_laptop/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=NXeGkrxZ 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/gif" width="889" height="500"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/gif" width="500" height="281"/> <img loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="/files/styles/pt_image_text_left_right_phone/public/longstory/Video_S5_Three-color-tracking-of-EGFR_HER2_HER3.gif?itok=wlKgfEt1" alt="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." title="A microscopy video showing green, pink, and blue spots moving on a black background." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> <div class="media-caption">A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell.</div> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__credit"> Credit: Courtesy of the Peng lab </div> <div class="media-caption__description"> A video created using the Peng lab's single-molecule tracking technology, which allowed them to track individual EGFR, HER2, and HER3 receptors (in green, pink, and blue, respectively) as they moved across the surface of a living cell. </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the research team tagged all three receptor types in one experiment, they observed a vibrant scene with receptors navigating the cell surface, finding partners, unpairing, and then finding new partners, over and over again.</p> <p>Beyond shedding light on EGFR biology, the scientists hope that collaborators in other fields will apply their method to ask new scientific questions about other proteins of interest. “We think this technique could be transformative for studying molecular biology because it enables dynamic biological processes to be observed with high spatiotemporal resolution over unprecedented timescales,” said Peng.</p> <p>They are also planning to explore the method’s use in studying the mechanism of drug action, to reveal how potential therapeutics alter individual molecules over time. In addition, they will continue to improve their methods, such as making the probes smaller, brighter, and able to emit more colors.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Paper cited</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ma K, Ma X, Shida J, et al. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867426003995" target="_blank">ErbB family receptor dimerization dynamics and dysregulation via long-term single-molecule imaging</a>. <em>Cell</em>. Online April 28, 2026. <br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--table-outro-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-heading field--type-text field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funding</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">The study was supported by the ӳ����ý of MIT and Harvard, the MIT Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Matter-to-Life Award, and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000 leah@broadinstitute.org 5560301 at