Particle simulation of epidermal growth factor receptor in prostate cancer cells

Abstract

In PC3 human prostate cancer cells, it has reported that experimental results with several doses of epidermal growth factor (EGF) showed abnormal dose-dependency of activation of EGF receptor (EGFR). This phenomenon cannot be explained with a traditional EGFR activation model that is widely used. In this paper, a new model which explains the abnormal response of EGFR in PC3 cells is presented. Our model introduces receptor "raft" on cell membrane, and the effect is evaluated with particle simulation. The simulation results successfully reproduce the drastic deactivation of EGFR inside raft with high dose EGF treatment.