Discoveries

For cancer cells to grow and proliferate, they must be able to rapidly build and renew their outer membranes. These membrane structures are made of fatty molecules called lipids, but technical limitations have made it difficult to measure the dynamics of lipid metabolism. In a new study, Salk scientists, led by Christian Metallo, PhD, used biochemical engineering tools and principles to address this problem. 

The team successfully repurposed a technique traditionally used to model glucose and mitochondrial metabolism to now measure changes in lipid flux in tumors. They collaborated with fellow Salk cancer researcher Reuben Shaw, PhD, to study lung cancer models, identifying specific changes in metabolism depending on the genetic mutations present in a tumor. This technology will now help them identify new therapeutic candidates to target lipid metabolism in cancer and other diseases. 

“What’s really cool about this new technology is that Reuben and I asked these same questions with older technology years ago, so we were especially attuned to the improvements. The new model offers much more detail and is going to allow us to better identify, validate, and target therapeutic candidates in lipid metabolism, lung cancer, and beyond.” 

CHRISTIAN METALLO