Differential utilization of two ATP-generating pathways is regulated by p53.
A fundamental property of cancer cells is the preferential utilization of glycolysis over aerobic respiration to produce ATP. Renewed interest in understanding the mechanism underlying this metabolic shift in energy production is broadening our understanding of the relationship between cancer and cellular metabolism. In a recent article, Matoba et al. report that the p53 tumor suppressor regulates the expression of SCO2, a protein that is required for the assembly of cytochrome c oxidase (COX), a multimeric protein complex required for oxidative phosphorylation. The implication of these findings is that aerobic respiration is compromised in cells that lack functional p53.
Assaily
Wissam
W
Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada.
Benchimol
Samuel
S
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000502:physiology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000080864:Lactate Dehydrogenase 5; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; C511423:SCO2 protein, mouse; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D000080864:Lactate Dehydrogenase 5; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV