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Mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes: apoptosis sensors mutated in cancer?

A Lemarie1, S Grimm

  • 1INSERM U1037-Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France. lemarie.anthony@claudiusregaud.fr

Oncogene
|June 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mutations in cancer cells affecting the respiratory chain (RC) are linked to tumor formation and apoptosis. Cancer cells exploit dying cell features to induce apoptosis via reactive oxygen species.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Mutations in cancer cells affecting respiratory chain (RC) subunits highlight the role of oxidative phosphorylation in tumorigenesis.
  • Recent studies suggest RC complex mutations influence apoptosis induction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence linking RC complex mutations to apoptosis induction.
  • To explore how complexes I and II mediate apoptosis signals.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on RC mutations and apoptosis.
  • Analysis of how protease activation and pH changes affect apoptosis induction by RC complexes.
  • Investigation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in cell death.

Main Results:

  • Complex I and II mutations impact apoptosis induction.
  • Dying cell features like protease activation and pH changes can inhibit apoptosis induction by RC complexes.
  • Both pathways converge on ROS formation, leading to cell death.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondrial processes, particularly those involving RC mutations, are crucial for understanding tumorigenesis.
  • Investigating these pathways offers potential for discovering new cancer intervention strategies.

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