Oxygen metabolism and a potential role for cytochrome c oxidase in the Warburg effect.
By manipulating the physical properties of oxygen, cells are able to harvest the large thermodynamic potential of oxidation to provide a substantial fraction of the energy necessary for cellular processes. The enzyme largely responsible for this oxygen manipulation is cytochrome c oxidase, which resides at the inner mitochondrial membrane. For unknown reasons, cancer cells do not maximally utilize this process, but instead rely more on an anaerobic-like metabolism demonstrating the so-called Warburg effect. As the enzyme at the crossroads of oxidative metabolism, cytochrome c oxidase might be expected to play a role in this so-called Warburg effect. Through protein assay methods and metabolic studies with radiolabeled glucose, alterations associated with cancer and cytochrome c oxidase subunit levels are explored. The implications of these findings for cancer research are discussed briefly.
Herrmann
Paul C
PC
Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA. pherrmann@llu.edu
Herrmann
E Clifford
EC
D000818:Animals; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000502:physiology*; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000502:physiology
D021122:Protein Subunits; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D010100:Oxygen