Mitochondrial Transfer Rescues Respiration to Support De Novo Pyrimidine Biosynthesis and Tumor Progression

Cancer cells with severe defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can import mitochondria via horizontal mitochondrial transfer to restore respiration. Mitochondrial respiration is necessary for the activity of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), an enzyme of the inner mitochondrial membrane that catalyzes the fourth step of de novo pyrimidine synthesis. In this study, we investigated the role of de novo synthesis of pyrimidines in driving tumor growth in mtDNA-deficient (ρ0) cells. Although ρ0 cells grafted in mice readily acquired mtDNA, this process was delayed in cells transfected with alternative oxidase (AOX), which combines the functions of mitochondrial respiratory complexes III and IV. The ρ0 AOX cells were glycolytic but maintained normal DHODH activity and pyrimidine production. Deletion of DHODH in a panel of tumor cells completely blocked or delayed tumor growth. The grafted ρ0 cells rapidly recruited tumor-promoting/stabilizing cells of the innate immune system, including protumor M2 macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). The ρ0 cells recruited MSCs early after grafting, which were potential mitochondrial donors. Grafting MSCs together with ρ0 cancer cells into mice resulted in mitochondrial transfer from MSCs to cancer cells. Overall, these findings indicate that cancer cells with compromised mitochondrial function readily acquire mtDNA from other cells in the tumor microenvironment to restore DHODH-dependent respiration and de novo pyrimidine synthesis. The inhibition of tumor growth induced by blocking DHODH supports targeting pyrimidine synthesis as a potential widely applicable therapeutic approach.

Mitochondrial complexes III and IV promote tumor progression by supporting de novo pyrimidine synthesis, requiring cancer cells devoid of mitochondrial DNA to recruit mitochondria from source cells to restore respiration in order to form tumors.