title: Mitochondrial metabolism and energy sensing in tumor progression.
abstract: Energy homeostasis is pivotal for cell fate since metabolic regulation, cell proliferation and death are strongly dependent on the balance between catabolic and anabolic pathways. In particular, metabolic and energetic changes have been observed in cancer cells even before the discovery of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, but have been neglected for a long time. Instead, during the past 20years a renaissance of the study of tumor metabolism has led to a revised and more accurate sight of the metabolic landscape of cancer cells. In this scenario, genetic, biochemical and clinical evidences place mitochondria as key actors in cancer metabolic restructuring, not only because there are energy and biosynthetic intermediates manufacturers, but also because occurrence of mutations in metabolic enzymes encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA has been associated to different types of cancer. Here we provide an overview of the possible mechanisms modulating mitochondrial energy production and homeostasis in the intriguing scenario of neoplastic cells, focusing on the double-edged role of 5'-AMP activated protein kinase in cancer metabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Mitochondria in Cancer, edited by Giuseppe Gasparre, Rodrigue Rossignol and Pierre Sonveaux.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FABIT), Università di Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: luisa.iommarini2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iommarini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FABIT), Università di Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC), U.O. Genetica Medica, Pol. Universitario S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparre
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FABIT), Università di Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale Scienze della Vita e Tecnologie per la Salute, Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Porcelli
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: AMPK; ATP; Cancer; Energy production; Mitochondria; OXPHOS