bims-mibica 2022-04-17 papers

bims-mibica

Biomed News

on Mitochondrial bioenergetics in cancer

Issue of 2022–04–17
thirty papers selected by
Kelsey Fisher-Wellman, East Carolina University

The Mitochondrial Routing of the Kv1.3 Channel.
Ketogenic diet and chemotherapy combine to disrupt pancreatic cancer metabolism and growth.
CPT1A-mediated fatty acid oxidation promotes cell proliferation via nucleoside metabolism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
DGAT1 activity synchronises with mitophagy to protect cells from metabolic rewiring by iron depletion.
A novel mitochondria-related gene signature for controlling colon cancer cell mitochondrial respiration and proliferation.
Metformin overcomes metabolic reprogramming-induced resistance of skin squamous cell carcinoma to photodynamic therapy.
NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1/4/5 promotes survival of acute myeloid leukemia by mediating specific oxidative phosphorylation.
Osmundacetone modulates mitochondrial metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer cells by hijacking the glutamine/glutamate/α-KG metabolic axis.
The intra-mitochondrial O-GlcNAcylation system rapidly modulates OXPHOS function and ROS release in the heart.
Age-related disruption of the proteome and acetylome in mouse hearts is associated with loss of function and attenuated by elamipretide (SS-31) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) treatment.
Mitochondrial calcium uniporter drives metastasis and confers a targetable cystine dependency in pancreatic cancer.
A feedback loop engaging propionate catabolism intermediates controls mitochondrial morphology.
Conversion of Hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate in Breast Cancer Cells Depends on Their Malignancy, Metabolic Program and Nutrient Microenvironment.
Unbiased proteomics, histochemistry, and mitochondrial DNA copy number reveal better mitochondrial health in muscle of high functioning octogenarians.
Contingency and selection in mitochondrial genome dynamics.
Rethinking Mitchell's Chemiosmotic Theory: Potassium Dominates Over Proton Flux to Drive Mitochondrial F1Fo-ATP Synthase.
Acute exposure to a clinical dose of metformin increases skeletal muscle mitochondrial H2O2 emission and production in healthy, older adults: A randomized controlled trial.
JAK3 mutations and mitochondrial apoptosis resistance in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Unchecked oxidative stress in skeletal muscle prevents outgrowth of disseminated tumour cells.
Effects of Exogenous ATP on Melanoma Growth and Tumor Metabolism in C57BL/6 Mice.
XJB-5-131 Is a Mild Uncoupler of Oxidative Phosphorylation.
Gas regulation of complex II reversal via electron shunting to fumarate in the mammalian ETC.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia-derived extracellular vesicles affect quiescence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
Mitochondrial-to-nuclear communication in aging: an epigenetic perspective.
Butyrate Drives Metabolic Rewiring and Epigenetic Reprogramming in Human Colon Cancer Cells.
Theoretical analysis of reversible and irreversible mitochondrial swelling invivo.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase RBCK1 promotes the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by destroying the PPARγ/PGC1α complex.
Mitochondrial shape alteration by metabolites.
Fatty acid oxidation enzyme Δ3, Δ2-enoyl-CoA isomerase 1 (ECI1) drives aggressive tumor phenotype and predicts poor clinical outcome in prostate cancer patients.
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase Inhibition by Dichloroacetate in Melanoma Cells Unveils Metabolic Vulnerabilities.

Front Oncol. 2022 ;12 865686

The Mitochondrial Routing of the Kv1.3 Channel.

Jesusa Capera, María Navarro-Pérez, Anne Stine Moen, Ildiko Szabó, Antonio Felipe.

  Voltage-gated potassium channels control neuronal excitability and cardiac action potentials. In addition, these proteins are involved in a myriad of cellular processes. The potassium channel Kv1.3 plays an essential role in the immune response mediated by leukocytes. Kv1.3 is functional both at the plasma membrane and the inner mitochondrial membrane. Plasma membrane Kv1.3 mediates cellular activation and proliferation, whereas mitochondrial Kv1.3 participates in cell survival and apoptosis. Therefore, this protein emerges as an important target in cancer therapies. Several forward-traffic motifs target the channel to the plasma membrane in a COPII-dependent manner. However, the mitochondrial import pathway for Kv1.3 is largely unknown. Here, we deciphered the mitochondrial routing of the mitoKv1.3 channel. Kv1.3 uses the TIM23 complex to translocate to the inner mitochondrial membrane. This mechanism is unconventional because the channel is a multimembrane spanning protein without a defined N-terminal presequence. We found that transmembrane domains cooperatively mediate Kv1.3 mitochondrial targeting and identified the cytosolic HSP70/HSP90 chaperone complex as a key regulator of the process. Our results provide insights into the mechanisms mediating the localization of Kv1.3 to mitochondrial membranes, further extending the knowledge of ion channel biogenesis and turnover in mitochondria.

Keywords:  TIM-TOM complex; apoptosis; cancer; mitochondria; potassium channels

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.865686
Med (N Y). 2022 Feb 11. 3(2): 119-136

Ketogenic diet and chemotherapy combine to disrupt pancreatic cancer metabolism and growth.

Lifeng Yang, Tara TeSlaa, Serina Ng, Michel Nofal, Lin Wang, Taijin Lan, Xianfeng Zeng, Alexis Cowan, Matthew McBride, Wenyun Lu, Shawn Davidson, Gaoyang Liang, Tae Gyu Oh, Michael Downes, Ronald Evans, Daniel Von Hoff, Jessie Yanxiang Guo, Haiyong Han, Joshua D Rabinowitz.

Background: Ketogenic diet is a potential means of augmenting cancer therapy. Here, we explore ketone body metabolism and its interplay with chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
Methods: Metabolism and therapeutic responses of murine pancreatic cancer were studied using KPC primary tumors and tumor chunk allografts. Mice on standard high-carbohydrate diet or ketogenic diet were treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, cisplatin). Metabolic activity was monitored with metabolomics and isotope tracing, including 2H- and 13C-tracers, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and imaging mass spectrometry.
Findings: Ketone bodies are unidirectionally oxidized to make NADH. This stands in contrast to the carbohydrate-derived carboxylic acids lactate and pyruvate, which rapidly interconvert, buffering NADH/NAD. In murine pancreatic tumors, ketogenic diet decreases glucose's concentration and tricarboxylic acid cycle contribution, enhances 3-hydroxybutyrate's concentration and tricarboxylic acid contribution, and modestly elevates NADH, but does not impact tumor growth. In contrast, the combination of ketogenic diet and cytotoxic chemotherapy substantially raises tumor NADH and synergistically suppresses tumor growth, tripling the survival benefits of chemotherapy alone. Chemotherapy and ketogenic diet also synergize in immune-deficient mice, although long-term growth suppression was only observed in mice with an intact immune system.
Conclusions: Ketogenic diet sensitizes murine pancreatic cancer tumors to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Based on these data, we have initiated a randomized clinical trial of chemotherapy with standard versus ketogenic diet for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (NCT04631445).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2021.12.008
Cell Death Dis. 2022 Apr 11. 13(4): 331

CPT1A-mediated fatty acid oxidation promotes cell proliferation via nucleoside metabolism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Min Tang, Xin Dong, Lanbo Xiao, Zheqiong Tan, Xiangjian Luo, Lifang Yang, Wei Li, Feng Shi, Yueshuo Li, Lin Zhao, Na Liu, Qianqian Du, Longlong Xie, Jianmin Hu, Xinxian Weng, Jia Fan, Jian Zhou, Qiang Gao, Weizhong Wu, Xin Zhang, Weihua Liao, Ann M Bode, Ya Cao.

As the first rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid oxidation (FAO), CPT1 plays a significant role in metabolic adaptation in cancer pathogenesis. FAO provides an alternative energy supply for cancer cells and is required for cancer cell survival. Given the high proliferation rate of cancer cells, nucleotide synthesis gains prominence in rapidly proliferating cells. In the present study, we found that CPT1A is a determining factor for the abnormal activation of FAO in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. CPT1A is highly expressed in NPC cells and biopsies. CPT1A dramatically affects the malignant phenotypes in NPC, including proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and tumor formation ability in nude mice. Moreover, an increased level of CPT1A promotes core metabolic pathways to generate ATP, inducing equivalents and the main precursors for nucleotide biosynthesis. Knockdown of CPT1A markedly lowers the fraction of 13C-palmitate-derived carbons into pyrimidine. Periodic activation of CPT1A increases the content of nucleoside metabolic intermediates promoting cell cycle progression in NPC cells. Targeting CPT1A-mediated FAO hinders the cell cycle G1/S transition. Our work verified that CPT1A links FAO to cell cycle progression in NPC cellular proliferation, which supplements additional experimental evidence for developing a therapeutic mechanism based on manipulating lipid metabolism.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04730-y
EMBO J. 2022 Apr 12. e109390

DGAT1 activity synchronises with mitophagy to protect cells from metabolic rewiring by iron depletion.

Maeve Long, Alvaro Sanchez-Martinez, Marianna Longo, Fumi Suomi, Hans Stenlund, Annika I Johansson, Homa Ehsan, Veijo T Salo, Lambert Montava-Garriga, Seyedehshima Naddafi, Elina Ikonen, Ian G Ganley, Alexander J Whitworth, Thomas G McWilliams.

  Mitophagy removes defective mitochondria via lysosomal elimination. Increased mitophagy coincides with metabolic reprogramming, yet it remains unknown whether mitophagy is a cause or consequence of such state changes. The signalling pathways that integrate with mitophagy to sustain cell and tissue integrity also remain poorly defined. We performed temporal metabolomics on mammalian cells treated with deferiprone, a therapeutic iron chelator that stimulates PINK1/PARKIN-independent mitophagy. Iron depletion profoundly rewired the metabolome, hallmarked by remodelling of lipid metabolism within minutes of treatment. DGAT1-dependent lipid droplet biosynthesis occurred several hours before mitochondrial clearance, with lipid droplets bordering mitochondria upon iron chelation. We demonstrate that DGAT1 inhibition restricts mitophagy in vitro, with impaired lysosomal homeostasis and cell viability. Importantly, genetic depletion of DGAT1 in vivo significantly impaired neuronal mitophagy and locomotor function in Drosophila. Our data define iron depletion as a potent signal that rapidly reshapes metabolism and establishes an unexpected synergy between lipid homeostasis and mitophagy that safeguards cell and tissue integrity.

Keywords:  DGAT1; iron; lipid droplet; metabolism; mitophagy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2021109390
Hum Cell. 2022 Apr 16.

A novel mitochondria-related gene signature for controlling colon cancer cell mitochondrial respiration and proliferation.

Zhenyu Zhu, Qingsheng Hou, Bishi Wang, Changhao Li, Luguang Liu, Weipeng Gong, Jie Chai, Hongliang Guo.

  Colon cancer cells rely on mitochondrial respiration as major source of energy for supporting their proliferation and invasion, thus promoting colon cancer malignancy and progression. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the prognostic significance of mitochondria-related genes in colon cancer and identified the hub genes that control colon cancer cell mitochondrial respiration and proliferation. We first systematically evaluated the prognostic significance of differentially expressed mitochondria-related genes in colon cancer specimens. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed to explore the hub genes. Eventually, five hub genes were identified, namely, POLG, FASTK, MRPS5, AARS2, and VARS2. Functional analyses showed that all these five hub genes are essential for maintaining mitochondrial respiration and proliferation of colon cancer cells. Mechanistic studies revealed the roles of these five hub genes in modulating mitochondrial DNA expression, that in turn influence mitochondrial respiration. In summary, our study demonstrated that POLG, FASTK, MRPS5, AARS2, and VARS2 may potentially serve as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colon cancer.

Keywords:  Colon cancer; Mitochondria; Mitochondria-related genes; Mitochondrial respiration; Proliferation; mtDNA expression

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13577-022-00702-8
Mol Metab. 2022 Apr 08. pii: S2212-8778(22)00065-5. [Epub ahead of print] 101496

Metformin overcomes metabolic reprogramming-induced resistance of skin squamous cell carcinoma to photodynamic therapy.

Marta Mascaraque-Checa, María Gallego-Rentero, Jimena Nicolás-Morala, Mikel Portillo-Esnaola, José M Cuezva, Salvador González, Yolanda Gilaberte, Ángeles Juarranz.

   OBJECTIVE: Cancer metabolic reprogramming promotes resistance to therapies. In this study, we addressed the role of the Warburg effect in the resistance to photodynamic therapy (PDT) in skin squamous cell carcinoma (sSCC). Furthermore, we assessed the effect of metformin treatment, an antidiabetic type II drug that modulates metabolism, as adjuvant to PDT.
METHODS: For that, we have used two human SCC cell lines: SCC13 and A431, called parental (P) and from these cell lines we have generated the corresponding PDT resistant cells (10GT).
RESULTS: Here, we show that 10GT cells induced metabolic reprogramming to an enhanced aerobic glycolysis and reduced activity of oxidative phosphorylation, which could influence the response to PDT. This result was also confirmed in P and 10GT SCC13 tumors developed in mice. The treatment with metformin caused a reduction in aerobic glycolysis and an increase in oxidative phosphorylation in 10GT sSCC cells. Finally, the combination of metformin with PDT improved the cytotoxic effects on P and 10GT cells. The combined treatment induced an increase in the protoporphyrin IX production, in the reactive oxygen species generation and in the AMPK expression and produced the inhibition of AKT/mTOR pathway. The greater efficacy of combined treatments was also seen in vivo, in xenografts of P and 10GT SCC13 cells.
CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our results reveal that PDT resistance implies, at least partially, a metabolic reprogramming towards aerobic glycolysis that is prevented by metformin treatment. Therefore, metformin may constitute an excellent adjuvant for PDT in sSCC.

Keywords:  AKT/mTOR pathway; Cancer resistance; Metformin; Photodynamic therapy; Skin squamous cell carcinoma; Warburg effect

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101496
Mol Med Rep. 2022 Jun;pii: 195. [Epub ahead of print]25(6):

NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1/4/5 promotes survival of acute myeloid leukemia by mediating specific oxidative phosphorylation.

Ye Kuang, Chuanmei Peng, Yulin Dong, Jia Wang, Fanbin Kong, Xiaoqing Yang, Yang Wang, Hui Gao.

  Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of hematological malignancy caused by uncontrolled clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells. The special energy metabolism mode of AML relying on oxidative phosphorylation is different from the traditional 'Warburg effect'. However, its mechanism is not clear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the mRNA expression levels of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, 4 and 5 (ND1, ND4 and ND5) were upregulated in AML samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database using the limma package in the R programming language. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and ELISA were used to verify the upregulation of ND1, ND4 and ND5 in clinical samples. Pan‑cancer analysis revealed that the expression of ND1 was upregulated only in AML, ND2 was upregulated only in AML and thymoma, and ND4 was upregulated only in AML and kidney chromophobe. In the present study, it was demonstrated that silencing of ND1/4/5 could inhibit the proliferation of AML cells in transplanted tumor of nude mice. Additionally, it was found that oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism of AML cells were decreased after silencing of ND1/4/5. In conclusion, the present study suggested that ND1/4/5 may be involved in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation metabolism in AML as a potential cancer‑promoting factor.

Keywords:  NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1/4/5; acute myeloid leukemia; oxidative phosphorylation; proliferation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2022.12711
Phytomedicine. 2022 Apr 04. pii: S0944-7113(22)00153-2. [Epub ahead of print]100 154075

Osmundacetone modulates mitochondrial metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer cells by hijacking the glutamine/glutamate/α-KG metabolic axis.

Yue Yang, Pingya He, Yuhao Hou, Zhicheng Liu, Xiaoping Zhang, Ning Li.

   BACKGROUND: Osmundacetone (OSC) is a bioactive phenolic compound isolated from Phellinus igniarius and that was shown to exert cytotoxic effects on cancer cells in our previous work. The antiproliferative impact of OSC on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying mechanisms, however, have not been studied.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the antiproliferative effect of OSC on NSCLC cells and the mechanisms involved.
METHODS: Cell viability, colony formation and cell cycle distribution were measured following exposure to OSC in vitro. The anticancer activity of OSC was also examined using a xenograft growth assay in vivo. Furthermore, serum metabolomics analysis by GC-MS was done to detect alterations in the metabolic profile. Next, expression of GLS1 and GLUD1, the key enzymes in glutamine metabolism, was evaluated using RT-PCR and western blot. α-KG and NADH metabolites were assessed by ELISA. Mitochondrial functions and morphology were evaluated using the JC-1 probe and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The ATP production rate in mitochondria of cells with OSC treatment was determined using a Seahorse XFe24 Analyzer.
RESULTS: OSC selectively reduced the proliferation of A549 and H460 cells. OSC triggered G2/M cell cycle arrest and decreased the cell clone formation. A mouse xenograft model revealed that OSC inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Findings of serum metabolomics analyses indicated that the anticancer function of OSC was related to disorders of glutamine metabolism. Such a speculation was further verified by the expression level of GLUD1, which was downregulated by OSC treatment. Concentrations of the related metabolites α-KG and NADH were reduced in response to OSC treatment. Moreover, OSC led to disorganization of the mitochondrial ultrastructure and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. OSC also decreased ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) but did not affect glycolysis in NSCLC cells.
CONCLUSION: The key role of OSC in mitochondrial energy metabolism in NSCLC cells is to suppress tumor development and cell proliferation downregulating GLUD1 to inhibit the glutamine/glutamate/α-KG metabolic axis and OXPHOS. It indicats that OSC might be a potential natural agent for personalized medicine and an anticancer metabolic modulator in NSCLC chemotherapy.

Keywords:  Abbreviations: α-KG, α-ketoglutaric acid; Antiproliferation; Glud1; Glutamine metabolism; Nsclc; Osmundacetone

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154075
Commun Biol. 2022 Apr 12. 5(1): 349

The intra-mitochondrial O-GlcNAcylation system rapidly modulates OXPHOS function and ROS release in the heart.

Justine Dontaine, Asma Bouali, Frederic Daussin, Laurent Bultot, Didier Vertommen, Manon Martin, Raahulan Rathagirishnan, Alexanne Cuillerier, Sandrine Horman, Christophe Beauloye, Laurent Gatto, Benjamin Lauzier, Luc Bertrand, Yan Burelle.

Protein O-GlcNAcylation is increasingly recognized as an important cellular regulatory mechanism, in multiple organs including the heart. However, the mechanisms leading to O-GlcNAcylation in mitochondria and the consequences on their function remain poorly understood. In this study, we use an in vitro reconstitution assay to characterize the intra-mitochondrial O-GlcNAc system without potential cytoplasmic confounding effects. We compare the O-GlcNAcylome of isolated cardiac mitochondria with that of mitochondria acutely exposed to NButGT, a specific inhibitor of glycoside hydrolase. Amongst the 409 O-GlcNAcylated mitochondrial proteins identified, 191 display increased O-GlcNAcylation in response to NButGT. This is associated with enhanced Complex I (CI) activity, increased maximal respiration in presence of pyruvate-malate, and a striking reduction of mitochondrial ROS release, which could be related to O-GlcNAcylation of specific subunits of ETC complexes (CI, CIII) and TCA cycle enzymes. In conclusion, our work underlines the existence of a dynamic mitochondrial O-GlcNAcylation system capable of rapidly modifying mitochondrial function.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03282-3
Geroscience. 2022 Apr 13.

Age-related disruption of the proteome and acetylome in mouse hearts is associated with loss of function and attenuated by elamipretide (SS-31) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) treatment.

Jeremy A Whitson, Richard Johnson, Lu Wang, Theo K Bammler, Shin-Ichiro Imai, Huiliang Zhang, Jeanne Fredrickson, Elena Latorre-Esteves, Alessandro Bitto, Michael J MacCoss, Peter S Rabinovitch.

  We analyzed the effects of aging on protein abundance and acetylation, as well as the ability of the mitochondrial-targeted drugs elamipretide (SS-31) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) to reverse aging-associated changes in mouse hearts. Both drugs had a modest effect on restoring the abundance and acetylation of proteins that are altered with age, while also inducing additional changes. Age-related increases in protein acetylation were predominantly in mitochondrial pathways such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative phosphorylation, and TCA cycle signaling. We further assessed how these age-related changes associated with diastolic function (Ea/Aa) and systolic function (fractional shortening under higher workload) measurements from echocardiography. These results identify a subset of protein abundance and acetylation changes in muscle, mitochondrial, and structural proteins that appear to be essential in regulating diastolic function in old hearts.

Keywords:  Acetylomics; Aging; Elamipretide; Heart; Mitochondria; NMN; Proteomics; SS-31

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00564-w
Cancer Res. 2022 Apr 12. pii: canres.3230.2021. [Epub ahead of print]

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter drives metastasis and confers a targetable cystine dependency in pancreatic cancer.

Xiuchao Wang, Yunzhan Li, Zekun Li, Shengchen Lin, Hongwei Wang, Jianwei Sun, Chungen Lan, Liangliang Wu, Dongxiao Sun, Chongbiao Huang, Pankaj K Singh, Nadine Hempel, Mohamed Trebak, Gina M DeNicola, Jihui Hao, Shengyu Yang.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease with few effective treatments. Here we show that the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) promotes PDAC cell migration, invasion, metastasis, and metabolic stress resistance by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 antioxidant program. The cystine transporter SLC7A11 was identified as a druggable target downstream of the MCU-Nrf2 axis. Paradoxically, despite the increased ability to uptake cystine, MCU-overexpressing PDAC demonstrated characteristics typical of cystine-deprived cells and were hypersensitive to cystine deprivation-induced ferroptosis. Pharmacological inhibitors of SLC7A11 effectively induced tumor regression and abrogated MCU-driven metastasis in PDAC. In patient-derived organoid models in vitro and patient-derived xenograft models in vivo, MCU-high PDAC demonstrated increased sensitivity to SLC7A11 inhibition compared to MCU-low tumors. These data suggest that MCU is able to promote resistance to metabolic stress and drive PDAC metastasis in a cystine-dependent manner. MCU-mediated cystine addiction could be exploited as a therapeutic vulnerability to inhibit PDAC tumor growth and prevent metastasis.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-3230
Nat Cell Biol. 2022 Apr 13.

A feedback loop engaging propionate catabolism intermediates controls mitochondrial morphology.

Junxiang Zhou, Mei Duan, Xin Wang, Fengxia Zhang, Hejiang Zhou, Tengfei Ma, Qiuyuan Yin, Jie Zhang, Fei Tian, Guodong Wang, Chonglin Yang.

D-2-Hydroxyglutarate (D-2HG) is an α-ketoglutarate-derived mitochondrial metabolite that causes D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, a devastating developmental disorder. How D-2HG adversely affects mitochondria is largely unknown. Here, we report that in Caenorhabditis elegans, loss of the D-2HG dehydrogenase DHGD-1 causes D-2HG accumulation and mitochondrial damage. The excess D-2HG leads to a build-up of 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP), a toxic metabolite in mitochondrial propionate oxidation, by inhibiting the 3-HP dehydrogenase HPHD-1. We demonstrate that 3-HP binds the MICOS subunit MIC60 (encoded by immt-1) and inhibits its membrane-binding and membrane-shaping activities. We further reveal that dietary and gut bacteria affect mitochondrial health by modulating the host production of 3-HP. These findings identify a feedback loop that links the toxic effects of D-2HG and 3-HP on mitochondria, thus providing important mechanistic insights into human diseases related to D-2HG and 3-HP.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-00883-2
Cancers (Basel). 2022 Apr 06. pii: 1845. [Epub ahead of print]14(7):

Conversion of Hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate in Breast Cancer Cells Depends on Their Malignancy, Metabolic Program and Nutrient Microenvironment.

Martin Grashei, Philipp Biechl, Franz Schilling, Angela M Otto.

  Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a technology for characterizing tumors in vivo based on their metabolic activities. The conversion rates (kpl) of hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate to [1-13C]lactate depend on monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); these are also indicators of tumor malignancy. An unresolved issue is how glucose and glutamine availability in the tumor microenvironment affects metabolic characteristics of the cancer and how this relates to kpl-values. Two breast cancer cells of different malignancy (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) were cultured in media containing defined combinations of low glucose (1 mM; 2.5 mM) and glutamine (0.1 mM; 1 mM) and analyzed for pyruvate uptake, intracellular metabolite levels, LDH and pyruvate kinase activities, and 13C6-glucose-derived metabolomics. The results show variability of kpl with the different glucose/glutamine conditions, congruent with glycolytic activity, but not with LDH activity or the Warburg effect; this suggests metabolic compartmentation. Remarkably, kpl-values were almost two-fold higher in MCF-7 than in the more malignant MDA-MB-231 cells, the latter showing a higher flux of 13C-glucose-derived pyruvate to the TCA-cycle metabolites 13C2-citrate and 13C3-malate, i.e., pyruvate decarboxylation and carboxylation, respectively. Thus, MRS with hyperpolarized [1-13C-pyruvate] is sensitive to both the metabolic program and the nutritional state of cancer cells.

Keywords:  13C-glucose metabolomics; LDH; TCA-cycle; Warburg effect; breast cancer cells; compartmentation; glycolysis; hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate; nutrient deprivation; pyruvate kinase

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14071845
Elife. 2022 Apr 11. pii: e74335. [Epub ahead of print]11

Unbiased proteomics, histochemistry, and mitochondrial DNA copy number reveal better mitochondrial health in muscle of high functioning octogenarians.

Ceereena Ubaida-Mohien, Sally Spendiff, Alexey Lyashkov, Ruin Moaddel, Norah J MacMillan, Marie-Eve Filion, Jose A Morais, Tanja Taivassalo, Luigi Ferrucci, Russell T Hepple.


Background: Master athletes prove that preserving a high level of physical function up to very late in life is possible, but the mechanisms responsible for their high function remain unclear.
Methods: We performed muscle biopsies in 15 octogenarian world class track and field masters athletes (MA) and 14 non-athlete age/sex-matched controls (NA) to provide insights into mechanisms for preserving function in advanced age. Muscle samples were assessed for respiratory compromised fibers, mtDNA copy number, and proteomics by liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry.
Results: MA exhibited markedly better performance on clinical function tests and greater cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis muscle. Proteomics analysis revealed marked differences, where most of the ~800 differentially represented proteins in MA versus NA pertained to mitochondria structure/function such as electron transport capacity (ETC), cristae formation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mtDNA-encoded proteins. In contrast, proteins from the spliceosome complex and nuclear pore were downregulated in MA. Consistent with proteomics data, MA had fewer respiratory compromised fibers, higher mtDNA copy number, and an increased protein ratio of the cristae-bound ETC subunits relative to the outer mitochondrial membrane protein voltage dependent anion channel. There was a substantial overlap of proteins overrepresented in MA versus NA with proteins that decline with aging and which are higher in physically active than sedentary individuals. However, we also found 176 proteins related to mitochondria that are uniquely differentially expressed in MA.
Conclusions: We conclude that high function in advanced age is associated with preserving mitochondrial structure/function proteins, with under-representation of proteins involved in the spliceosome and nuclear pore complex. Whereas many of these differences in MA appear related to their physical activity habits, others may reflect unique biological (e.g., gene, environment) mechanisms that preserve muscle integrity and function with aging.
Funding: Funding for this study was provided by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP 84408 to TT and MOP 125986 to RTH). Supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Keywords:  epidemiology; global health; human

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.74335
Elife. 2022 Apr 11. pii: e76557. [Epub ahead of print]11

Contingency and selection in mitochondrial genome dynamics.

Christopher J Nunn, Sidhartha Goyal.

  High frequencies of mutant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in human cells lead to cellular defects that are associated with aging and disease. Yet much remains to be understood about the dynamics of the generation of mutant mtDNAs and their relative replicative fitness that informs their fate within cells and tissues. To address this, we utilize long-read single-molecule sequencing to track mutational trajectories of mtDNA in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This model has numerous advantages over mammalian systems due to its much larger mtDNA and ease of artificially competing mutant and wild-type mtDNA copies in cells. We show a previously unseen pattern that constrains subsequent excision events in mtDNA fragmentation in yeast. We also provide evidence for the generation of rare and contentious non-periodic mtDNA structures that lead to persistent diversity within individual cells. Finally, we show that measurements of relative fitness of mtDNA fit a phenomenological model that highlights important biophysical parameters governing mtDNA fitness. Altogether, our study provides techniques and insights into the dynamics of large structural changes in genomes that we show are applicable to more complex organisms like humans.

Keywords:  S. cerevisiae; computational biology; genetics; genomics; systems biology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.76557
Function (Oxf). 2022 ;3(2): zqac012

Rethinking Mitchell's Chemiosmotic Theory: Potassium Dominates Over Proton Flux to Drive Mitochondrial F1Fo-ATP Synthase.

Edoardo Bertero, Christoph Maack.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/function/zqac012
Exp Gerontol. 2022 Apr 08. pii: S0531-5565(22)00112-7. [Epub ahead of print] 111804

Acute exposure to a clinical dose of metformin increases skeletal muscle mitochondrial H2O2 emission and production in healthy, older adults: A randomized controlled trial.

Alec I McKenzie, Ziad S Mahmassani, Jonathan J Petrocelli, Naomi M M P de Hart, Dennis K Fix, Patrick J Ferrara, Paul C LaStayo, Robin L Marcus, Matthew T Rondina, Scott A Summers, Jordan M Johnson, Joel D Trinity, Katsuhiko Funai, Micah J Drummond.

   BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metformin is the most commonly prescribed medication to treat diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that metformin could have off target effects that might help promote healthy muscle aging, but these effects have not been thoroughly studied in glucose tolerant older individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of metformin consumption on skeletal muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics in healthy older adults.
METHODS: We obtained muscle biopsy samples from 16 healthy older adults previously naïve to metformin and treated with metformin (METF; 3F, 5M), or placebo (CON; 3F, 5M), for two weeks using a randomized and blinded study design. Samples were analyzed using high-resolution respirometry, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting to assess muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics, satellite cell (SC) content, and associated protein markers.
RESULTS: We found that metformin treatment did not alter maximal mitochondrial respiration rates in muscle compared to CON. In contrast, mitochondrial H2O2 emission and production were elevated in muscle samples from METF versus CON (METF emission: 2.59 ± 0.72 SE Fold, P = 0.04; METF production: 2.29 ± 0.53 SE Fold, P = 0.02). Furthermore, the change in H2O2 emission was positively correlated with the change in type 1 myofiber SC content and this was biased in METF participants (Pooled: R2 = 0.5816, P = 0.0006; METF: R2 = 0.674, P = 0.0125).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that acute exposure to metformin does not impact mitochondrial respiration in aged, glucose-tolerant muscle, but rather, influences mitochondrial-free radical and SC dynamics.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03107884, clinicaltrials.gov.

Keywords:  Aging; Complex I respiration; Free radicals; Insulin sensitizers; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Muscle stem cells

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2022.111804
Leukemia. 2022 Apr 11.

JAK3 mutations and mitochondrial apoptosis resistance in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Kimberly Bodaar, Natsuko Yamagata, Anais Barthe, Jack Landrigan, Triona Ni Chonghaile, Melissa Burns, Kristen E Stevenson, Meenakshi Devidas, Mignon L Loh, Stephen P Hunger, Brent Wood, Lewis B Silverman, David T Teachey, Jules P Meijerink, Anthony Letai, Alejandro Gutierrez.

Resistance to mitochondrial apoptosis predicts inferior treatment outcomes in patients with diverse tumor types, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). However, the genetic basis for variability in this mitochondrial apoptotic phenotype is poorly understood, preventing its rational therapeutic targeting. Using BH3 profiling and exon sequencing analysis of childhood T-ALL clinical specimens, we found that mitochondrial apoptosis resistance was most strongly associated with activating mutations of JAK3. Mutant JAK3 directly repressed apoptosis in leukemia cells, because its inhibition with mechanistically distinct pharmacologic inhibitors resulted in reversal of mitochondrial apoptotic blockade. Inhibition of JAK3 led to loss of MEK, ERK and BCL2 phosphorylation, and BH3 profiling revealed that JAK3-mutant primary T-ALL patient samples were characterized by a dependence on BCL2. Treatment of JAK3-mutant T-ALL cells with the JAK3 inhibitor tofacitinib in combination with a spectrum of conventional chemotherapeutics revealed synergy with glucocorticoids, in vitro and in vivo. These findings thus provide key insights into the molecular genetics of mitochondrial apoptosis resistance in childhood T-ALL, and a compelling rationale for a clinical trial of JAK3 inhibitors in combination with glucocorticoids for patients with JAK3-mutant T-ALL.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-022-01558-5
Nat Cell Biol. 2022 Apr 11.

Unchecked oxidative stress in skeletal muscle prevents outgrowth of disseminated tumour cells.

Sarah B Crist, Travis Nemkov, Ruth F Dumpit, Jinxiang Dai, Stephen J Tapscott, Lawrence D True, Alexander Swarbrick, Lucas B Sullivan, Peter S Nelson, Kirk C Hansen, Cyrus M Ghajar.

Skeletal muscle has long been recognized as an inhospitable site for disseminated tumour cells (DTCs). Yet its antimetastatic nature has eluded a thorough mechanistic examination. Here, we show that DTCs traffic to and persist within skeletal muscle in mice and in humans, which raises the question of how this tissue suppresses colonization. Results from mouse and organotypic culture models along with metabolomic profiling suggested that skeletal muscle imposes a sustained oxidative stress on DTCs that impairs their proliferation. Functional studies demonstrated that disrupting reduction-oxidation homeostasis via chemogenetic induction of reactive oxygen species slowed proliferation in a more fertile organ: the lung. Conversely, enhancement of the antioxidant potential of tumour cells through ectopic expression of catalase in the tumour or host mitochondria allowed robust colonization of skeletal muscle. These findings reveal a profound metabolic bottleneck imposed on DTCs and sustained by skeletal muscle. A thorough understanding of this biology could reveal previously undocumented DTC vulnerabilities that can be exploited to prevent metastasis in other more susceptible tissues.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-00881-4
Comp Med. 2022 Apr 11.

Effects of Exogenous ATP on Melanoma Growth and Tumor Metabolism in C57BL/6 Mice.

Yali Lei, Xu Zhou, Yang Zhao, Jianfa Zhang.

Altered energy metabolism (glucose, lipid, amino acid) is a hallmark of cancer growth that provides the theoretical basis for the development of metabolic therapies as cancer treatments. ATP is one of the major biochemical constituents of the tumor microenvironment. ATP promotes tumor progression or suppression depending on various factors, including concentration and tumor type. Here we evaluated the antitumor effect of extracellular ATP on melanoma and the potential underlying mechanisms. A subcutaneous tumor model in mice was used to investigate the antitumor effects of ATP. Major lymphocyte cell changes and intratumoral metabolic changes were assessed. Metabolomic analysis (1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) was performed on tumor samples. We measured the activities of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and LDHB in the excised tumors and serum and found that ATP and its metabolites affected the proliferation of and LDHA activity in B16F10 cells, a murine melanoma cell line. In addition, treatment with ATP dose-dependently reduced tumor size in melanoma-bearing mice. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the antitumor effect of ATP was not achieved through changes in T-cell or B-cell subsets. Metabolomics analysis revealed that ATP treatment simultaneously reduced multiple intratumoral metabolites related to energy metabolism as well as serum and tumor LDHA activities. Furthermore, both ATP and its metabolites significantly suppressed both tumor cell proliferation and LDHA activity in the melanoma cell line. Our results in vivo and in vitro indicate that exogenous ATP inhibits melanoma growth in association with altered intratumoral metabolism.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-CM-21-000099
J Huntingtons Dis. 2022 Apr 07.

XJB-5-131 Is a Mild Uncoupler of Oxidative Phosphorylation.

Zhiyin Xun, Peter Wipf, Cynthia T McMurray.

   BACKGROUND: Mitochondria (MT) are energy "powerhouses" of the cell and the decline in their function from oxidative damage is strongly correlated in many diseases. To suppress oxygen damage, we have developed and applied XJB-5-131 as a targeted platform for neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) directly in MT. Although the beneficial activity of XJB-5-131 is well documented, the mechanism of its protective effects is not yet fully understood.
OBJECTIVE: Here, we elucidate the mechanism of protection for XJB-5-131, a mitochondrial targeted antioxidant and electron scavenger.
METHODS: The Seahorse Flux Analyzer was used to probe the respiratory states of isolated mouse brain mitochondria treated with XJB-5-131 compared to controls.
RESULTS: Surprisingly, there is no direct impact of XJB-5-131 radical scavenger on the electron flow through the electron transport chain. Rather, XJB-5-131 is a mild uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. The nitroxide moiety in XJB-5-131 acts as a superoxide dismutase mimic, which both extracts or donates electrons during redox reactions. The electron scavenging activity of XJB-5-131 prevents the leakage of electrons and reduces formation of the superoxide anion, thereby reducing ROS.
CONCLUSION: We show here that XJB-5-131 is a mild uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in MT. The mild uncoupling property of XJB-5-131 arises from its redox properties, which exert a protective effect by reducing ROS-induced damage without sacrificing energy production. Because mitochondrial decline is a common and central feature of toxicity, the favorable properties of XJB-5-131 are likely to be useful in treating Huntington's disease and a wide spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases for which oxidative damage is a key component. The mild uncoupling properties of XJB-5-131 suggest a valuable mechanism of action for the design of clinically effective antioxidants.

Keywords:  Antioxidant; metabolism; mitochondrial; oxidative stress; reactive oxygen species

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/JHD-220539
Trends Biochem Sci. 2022 Apr 06. pii: S0968-0004(22)00070-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Gas regulation of complex II reversal via electron shunting to fumarate in the mammalian ETC.

Ruma Banerjee, Roshan Kumar.

  The electron transport chain (ETC) is a major currency converter that exchanges the chemical energy of fuel oxidation to proton motive force and, subsequently, ATP generation, using O2 as a terminal electron acceptor. Discussed herein, two new studies reveal that the mammalian ETC is forked. Hypoxia or H2S exposure promotes the use of fumarate as an alternate terminal electron acceptor. The fumarate/succinate and CoQH2/CoQ redox couples are nearly iso-potential, revealing that complex II is poised for facile reverse electron transfer, which is sensitive to CoQH2 and fumarate concentrations. The gas regulators, H2S and •NO, modulate O2 affinity and/or inhibit the electron transfer rate at complex IV. Their induction under hypoxia suggests a mechanism for how traffic at the ETC fork can be regulated.

Keywords:  complex II; electron acceptor; electron transport chain; fumarate; hydrogen sulfide; hypoxia; nitric oxide

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2022.03.011
Cell Death Dis. 2022 Apr 12. 13(4): 337

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia-derived extracellular vesicles affect quiescence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Aleksandra Georgievski, Anaïs Michel, Charles Thomas, Zandile Mlamla, Jean-Paul Pais de Barros, Stéphanie Lemaire-Ewing, Carmen Garrido, Ronan Quéré.

Patient-derived xenografted (PDX) models were generated through the transplantation of primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells into immunodeficient NSG mice. We observed that ALL cells from mouse bone marrow (BM) produced extracellular vesicles (EVs) with specific expression of inducible heat shock protein HSP70, which is commonly activated in cancer cells. Taking advantage of this specific expression, we designed a strategy to generate fluorescent HSP70-labeled ALL EVs and monitor the impact of these EVs on endogenous murine BM cells ex vivo and in vivo. We discovered that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) were mainly targeted by ALL EVs, affecting their quiescence and maintenance in the murine BM environment. Investigations revealed that ALL EVs were enriched in cholesterol and other metabolites that contribute to promote the mitochondrial function in targeted HSPC. Furthermore, using CD34+ cells isolated from cord blood, we confirmed that ALL EVs can modify quiescence of human HSPC. In conclusion, we have discovered a new oncogenic mechanism illustrating how EVs produced by proliferative ALL cells can target and compromise a healthy hematopoiesis system during leukemia development.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04761-5
Trends Biochem Sci. 2022 Apr 06. pii: S0968-0004(22)00067-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Mitochondrial-to-nuclear communication in aging: an epigenetic perspective.

Di Zhu, Xinyu Li, Ye Tian.

  Age-associated changes in mitochondria are closely involved in aging. Apart from the established roles in bioenergetics and biosynthesis, mitochondria are signaling organelles that communicate their fitness to the nucleus, triggering transcriptional programs to adapt homeostasis stress that is essential for organismal health and aging. Emerging studies revealed that mitochondrial-to-nuclear (mito-nuclear) communication via altered levels of mitochondrial metabolites or stress signals causes various epigenetic changes, facilitating efforts to maintain homeostasis and affect aging. Here, we summarize recent studies on the mechanisms by which mito-nuclear communication modulates epigenomes and their effects on regulating the aging process. Insights into understanding how mitochondrial metabolites serve as prolongevity signals and how aging affects this communication will help us develop interventions to promote longevity and health.

Keywords:  UPR(mt); aging; epigenetic regulation; longevity; mitochondrial metabolites; mitochondrial–nuclear communication

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2022.03.008
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2022 Apr 15. e2200028

Butyrate Drives Metabolic Rewiring and Epigenetic Reprogramming in Human Colon Cancer Cells.

Lujing Wang, Ahmad Abdel Fat Shannar, Renyi Wu, Pochung Chou, Md Shahid Sarwar, Hsiao-Chen Kuo, Rebecca Mary Peter, Yujue Wang, Xiaoyang Su, Ah-Ng Kong.

   SCOPE: Butyrate (B) is a short-chain fatty acid produced by dietary fiber, known to inhibit histone deacetylases (HDACs) and possess cancer-preventive/anticancer effects. However, the role of B in metabolic rewiring, epigenomic reprogramming, transcriptomic network, NRF2 signaling and eliciting cancer-preventive effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) HCT116 cell remains unclear.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Sodium butyrate (NaB) dose-dependently inhibited the growth of CRC HCT116 cells. NaB inhibited NRF2/NRF2-target genes and blocked NRF2-ARE signaling. NaB increased NRF2 negative regulator KEAP1 expression through inhibiting its promoter methylation. Associative analysis of DEGs (differentially expressed genes) from RNA-seq and DMRs (differentially methylated regions) from CpG methyl-seq identified the tumor suppressor gene ABCA1 and tumor promote gene EGR3 were correlated with their promoters' CpG methylation indicating NaB regulates cancer markers through modulating their promoter methylation. NaB activated the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle while inhibited the methionine metabolism which are both tightly coupled to the epigenetic machinery. NaB regulated the epigenetic enzymes/genes including DNMT1, HAT1, KDM1A, KDM1B and TET1. Altogether, B's regulation of metabolites coupled to the epigenetic enzymes illustrates the potential underlying biological connectivity between metabolomics and epigenomics.
CONCLUSION: B regulates KEAP1/NRF2 signaling, drives metabolic rewiring, CpG methylomic and transcriptomic reprogramming contributing to the overall cancer-prevention/anticancer effect in the CRC cell model. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  colorectal cancer; epigenetic; metabolomics; nuclear factor erythroid-2 like 2 (NRF2); sodium butyrate

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202200028
Biosystems. 2022 Apr 09. pii: S0303-2647(22)00069-7. [Epub ahead of print] 104679

Theoretical analysis of reversible and irreversible mitochondrial swelling invivo.

Igor Khmelinskii, Vladimir Makarov.

  Theoretical biophysical model is reported for mitochondrial swelling (MS) dynamics in vivo. This newly developed model is based on the detailed biophysical model of MS dynamics in vitro, where mechanical properties of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) were taken into account. The present model of MS dynamics in vivo is capable of analyzing MS dynamic transition from the reversible (physiological) to the irreversible (pathological) mode. This model was used to describe myocytes, assuming 1000 mitochondria distributed homogeneously over the sarcoplasm. Solute transport through the myocyte membrane was described by simplified phenomenological mechanisms of solute uptake and release. Biophysical processes occurring in mitochondria within cells were similar to those included in the earlier reported in vitro biophysical model of MS dynamics. Additionally, in vivo MS dynamics was simulated in different initial conditions, with results different from those of the in vitro model. Note that the presently reported model is the first attempt to develop a detailed biophysical model for the analysis of MS dynamics in vivo, capable of reproducing the transition between reversible and irreversible MS dynamics.

Keywords:  Biophysical model in vivo; Irreversible mitochondrial swelling; Matrix solute dynamics; Mitochondrial swelling; Reversible mitochondrial swelling; Solute dynamics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104679
Am J Cancer Res. 2022 ;12(3): 1372-1392

The E3 ubiquitin ligase RBCK1 promotes the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by destroying the PPARγ/PGC1α complex.

Zheng Xu, Jun Shao, Cihua Zheng, Jing Cai, Bowen Li, Xiaogang Peng, Leifeng Chen, Tiande Liu.

The disruption of tumour cell metabolism can inhibit tumour metastasis, indicating that aerobic glycolysis is central to tumour development. However, the key factors responsible for mediating aerobic glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Here, we observed that RBCK1 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Our clinical study revealed that high RBCK1 expression is significantly correlated with poor tumour survival and distant invasion. Functional assays revealed that RBCK1 promotes migration and invasion by enhancing GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis. Furthermore, RBCK1-induced HCC cell migration and aerobic glycolysis via activation of WNT/β-catenin/GLUT1 pathway, which was dependent on the destruction of the PPARγ/PGC1α complex. Mechanistically, RBCK1 promotes PPARγ ubiquitination and degradation, and RBCK1 overexpression enhances the transcriptional activity of WNT/β-catenin, thus to upregulate the expression of GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells. Altogether, our findings identify a mechanism used by HCC cells to survive the nutrient-poor tumour microenvironment and provide insight into the role of RBCK1 in HCC cellular adaptation to metabolic stresses.

Keywords: GLUT1; Hepatocellular carcinoma; PPARγ/PGC1α complex; RBCK; metastasis and invasion
Nat Cell Biol. 2022 Apr 13.

Mitochondrial shape alteration by metabolites.

Till Klecker, Benedikt Westermann.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-00889-w
Oncogene. 2022 Apr 11.

Fatty acid oxidation enzyme Δ3, Δ2-enoyl-CoA isomerase 1 (ECI1) drives aggressive tumor phenotype and predicts poor clinical outcome in prostate cancer patients.

Yogesh M Bramhecha, Karl-Philippe Guérard, Étienne Audet-Walsh, Shaghayegh Rouzbeh, Ola Kassem, Erwan Pernet, Eleonora Scarlata, Lucie Hamel, Fadi Brimo, Maziar Divangahi, Armen G Aprikian, Simone Chevalier, Vincent Giguère, Jacques Lapointe.

Prostate cancer (PCa) metastases are highly enriched with genomic alterations including a gain at the 16p13.3 locus, recently shown to be associated with disease progression and poor clinical outcome. ECI1, residing at the 16p13.3 gain region, encodes Δ3, Δ2-Enoyl-CoA Delta Isomerase 1 (ECI1), a key mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation enzyme. Although deregulated mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation is known to drive PCa pathogenesis, the role of ECI1 in PCa is still unknown. We investigated the impacts of ECI1 on PCa phenotype in vitro and in vivo by modulating its expression in cell lines and assessed the clinical implications of its expression in human prostate tissue samples. In vitro, ECI1 overexpression increased PCa cell growth while ECI1 deficiency reduced its growth. ECI1 also enhanced colony formation, cell motility, and maximal mitochondrial respiratory capacity. In vivo, PCa cells stably overexpressing ECI1 injected orthotopically in nude mice formed larger prostate tumors with higher number of metastases. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the human tissue microarray representing 332 radical prostatectomy cases revealed a stronger ECI1 staining in prostate tumors compared to corresponding benign tissues. ECI1 expression varied amongst tumors and was higher in cases with 16p13.3 gain, high Gleason grade, and advanced tumor stage. ECI1 overexpression was a strong independent predictor of biochemical recurrence after adjusting for known clinicopathologic parameters (hazard ratio: 3.65, P < 0.001) or the established CAPRA-S score (hazard ratio: 3.95, P < 0.001). ECI1 overexpression was also associated with significant increased risk of distant metastasis and reduced overall survival. Overall, this study demonstrates the functional capacity of ECI1 in PCa progression and highlights the clinical implication of ECI1 as a potential target for the management of PCa.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-022-02276-z
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 29. pii: 3745. [Epub ahead of print]23(7):

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase Inhibition by Dichloroacetate in Melanoma Cells Unveils Metabolic Vulnerabilities.

Jiske F Tiersma, Bernard Evers, Barbara M Bakker, Mathilde Jalving, Steven de Jong.

  Melanoma is characterized by high glucose uptake, partially mediated through elevated pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), making PDK a potential treatment target in melanoma. We aimed to reduce glucose uptake in melanoma cell lines through PDK inhibitors dichloroacetate (DCA) and AZD7545 and through PDK knockdown, to inhibit cell growth and potentially unveil metabolic co-vulnerabilities resulting from PDK inhibition. MeWo cells were most sensitive to DCA, while SK-MEL-2 was the least sensitive, with IC50 values ranging from 13.3 to 27.0 mM. DCA strongly reduced PDH phosphorylation and increased the oxygen consumption rate:extracellular acidification rate (OCR:ECAR) ratio up to 6-fold. Knockdown of single PDK isoforms had similar effects on PDH phosphorylation and OCR:ECAR ratio as DCA but did not influence sensitivity to DCA. Growth inhibition by DCA was synergistic with the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 (2- to 5-fold sensitization) and with diclofenac, known to inhibit monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) (3- to 8-fold sensitization). CB-839 did not affect the OCR:ECAR response to DCA, whereas diclofenac strongly inhibited ECAR and further increased the OCR:ECAR ratio. We conclude that in melanoma cell lines, DCA reduces proliferation through reprogramming of cellular metabolism and synergizes with other metabolically targeted drugs.

Keywords:  dichloroacetate; melanoma; metabolic reprogramming; metabolism

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073745