VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges
Most anionic metabolites including respiratory substrates, glycolytic adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and small cations that enter mitochondria, and mitochondrial ATP moving to the cytosol, cross the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) through voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC). The closed states...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.742839/full |
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| author | Kareem A. Heslop Veronica Milesi Eduardo N. Maldonado Eduardo N. Maldonado |
| author_facet | Kareem A. Heslop Veronica Milesi Eduardo N. Maldonado Eduardo N. Maldonado |
| author_sort | Kareem A. Heslop |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most anionic metabolites including respiratory substrates, glycolytic adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and small cations that enter mitochondria, and mitochondrial ATP moving to the cytosol, cross the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) through voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC). The closed states of VDAC block the passage of anionic metabolites, and increase the flux of small cations, including calcium. Consequently, physiological or pharmacological regulation of VDAC opening, by conditioning the magnitude of both anion and cation fluxes, is a major contributor to mitochondrial metabolism. Tumor cells display a pro-proliferative Warburg phenotype characterized by enhanced aerobic glycolysis in the presence of partial suppression of mitochondrial metabolism. The heterogeneous and flexible metabolic traits of most human tumors render cells able to adapt to the constantly changing energetic and biosynthetic demands by switching between predominantly glycolytic or oxidative phenotypes. Here, we describe the biological consequences of changes in the conformational state of VDAC for cancer metabolism, the mechanisms by which VDAC-openers promote cancer cell death, and the advantages of VDAC opening as a valuable pharmacological target. Particular emphasis is given to the endogenous regulation of VDAC by free tubulin and the effects of VDAC-tubulin antagonists in cancer cells. Because of its function and location, VDAC operates as a switch to turn-off mitochondrial metabolism (closed state) and increase aerobic glycolysis (pro-Warburg), or to turn-on mitochondrial metabolism (open state) and decrease glycolysis (anti-Warburg). A better understanding of the role of VDAC regulation in tumor progression is relevant both for cancer biology and for developing novel cancer chemotherapies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T21:46:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29d9efed0e7e419f97a653b92bd408e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T21:46:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-29d9efed0e7e419f97a653b92bd408e22022-12-21T22:15:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2021-09-011210.3389/fphys.2021.742839742839VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic ChallengesKareem A. Heslop0Veronica Milesi1Eduardo N. Maldonado2Eduardo N. Maldonado3Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesFacultad de Ciencias Exactas, Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológicos (IIFP), UNLP, CONICET, CIC PBA, La Plata, ArgentinaDepartment of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesHollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United StatesMost anionic metabolites including respiratory substrates, glycolytic adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and small cations that enter mitochondria, and mitochondrial ATP moving to the cytosol, cross the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) through voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC). The closed states of VDAC block the passage of anionic metabolites, and increase the flux of small cations, including calcium. Consequently, physiological or pharmacological regulation of VDAC opening, by conditioning the magnitude of both anion and cation fluxes, is a major contributor to mitochondrial metabolism. Tumor cells display a pro-proliferative Warburg phenotype characterized by enhanced aerobic glycolysis in the presence of partial suppression of mitochondrial metabolism. The heterogeneous and flexible metabolic traits of most human tumors render cells able to adapt to the constantly changing energetic and biosynthetic demands by switching between predominantly glycolytic or oxidative phenotypes. Here, we describe the biological consequences of changes in the conformational state of VDAC for cancer metabolism, the mechanisms by which VDAC-openers promote cancer cell death, and the advantages of VDAC opening as a valuable pharmacological target. Particular emphasis is given to the endogenous regulation of VDAC by free tubulin and the effects of VDAC-tubulin antagonists in cancer cells. Because of its function and location, VDAC operates as a switch to turn-off mitochondrial metabolism (closed state) and increase aerobic glycolysis (pro-Warburg), or to turn-on mitochondrial metabolism (open state) and decrease glycolysis (anti-Warburg). A better understanding of the role of VDAC regulation in tumor progression is relevant both for cancer biology and for developing novel cancer chemotherapies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.742839/fullcancerglycolysismetabolic flexibilitymetabolic reprogrammingmetabolismmitochondria |
| spellingShingle | Kareem A. Heslop Veronica Milesi Eduardo N. Maldonado Eduardo N. Maldonado VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges Frontiers in Physiology cancer glycolysis metabolic flexibility metabolic reprogramming metabolism mitochondria |
| title | VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_full | VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_fullStr | VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_short | VDAC Modulation of Cancer Metabolism: Advances and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_sort | vdac modulation of cancer metabolism advances and therapeutic challenges |
| topic | cancer glycolysis metabolic flexibility metabolic reprogramming metabolism mitochondria |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.742839/full |
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