Each of our cells constantly has to make decisions. Should it grow or divide? Which signals from the environment should it respond to? The cell answers these vital questions with the help of sensors on its surface. A team led by biochemist Benjamin Schumann from TU Dresden has now succeeded for the first time in marking and tracking these sensors in the body. The discovery could help to better understand and fight cancer in the future.
The sensors in question are called proteoglycans. These are large molecules made of protein and long sugar chains. They sit on the cell surface like antennae and receive signals from the environment. "Proteoglycans are crucial for the growth of most of our organs," explains Benjamin Schumann, Professor of Biochemistry at TU Dresden. Changes in these molecules are fatal for developing embryos. Despite their importance, proteoglycans have hardly been researched until now. Their complex structure makes it difficult to analyze them using conventional methods.
Chemical trick makes sensors visible
Schumann and his team therefore developed a new method. They used what is known as click chemistry, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2022. The researchers modified an enzyme so that it only processes a special form of sugar. This sugar carries a chemical marker like a neon sign. If it is incorporated into the proteoglycans, these can be made visible and isolated from the cell. The special thing about this is that the cells continue to function normally despite the label. Their biological function is not disrupted.
New perspectives for cancer research
The study now opens up many possibilities. Researchers can observe the molecules in different situations, for example while organs are developing. Schumann even speaks of "designer proteoglycans", in which the sugar chains are replaced by other molecules. The biochemist has been conducting research at TU Dresden since August 2025 and wants to investigate how proteoglycans contribute to the development of complex organs.
The method is particularly promising for cancer research. "I am confident that this tracking system could help us to understand and even modify the signals that a cancer cell receives," says Schumann. This could one day help to find better treatment methods.
