Emerging Roles of COX7RP and Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Metabolic alterations are critical events in cancers, which often contribute to tumor pathophysiology. While aerobic glycolysis is a known characteristic of cancer-related metabolism, recent studies have shed light on mitochondria-related metabolic pathways in cancer biology, including oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), amino acid and lipid metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, and redox regulation. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women; thus, elucidation of breast cancer-related metabolic alteration will help to develop cancer drugs for many patients. We here aim to define the contribution of mitochondrial metabolism to breast cancer biology. The relevance of OXPHOS in breast cancer has been recently defined by the discovery of COX7RP, which promotes mitochondrial respiratory supercomplex assembly and glutamine metabolism: the latter is also shown to promote nucleic acid and fatty acid biosynthesis as well as ROS defense regulation. In this context, the estrogen-related receptor (ERR) family nuclear receptors and collaborating coactivators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 (PGC-1) are essential transcriptional regulators for both energy production and cancer-related metabolism. Summarizing recent findings of mitochondrial metabolism in breast cancer, this review will aim to provide a clue for the development of alternative clinical management by modulating the activities of responsible molecules involved in disease-specific metabolic alterations.

Metabolic Flexibility of the Heart: The Role of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Health, Heart Failure, and Cardiometabolic Diseases

“…Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1) family, particularly PGC-1α, interact with both PPARs and ERRs to enhance FA uptake and FAO [17,18]. It is well established that PGC-1 plays a vital role in mitochondrial biogenesis, essential for cellular energetics [26,27]. A loss of PGC-1α has been linked with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and hepatic steatosis [28].…”

MEF2D Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Breast Cancer

“…For example, several transcription factors have been identified as drivers of breast cancer, including ARNT2, COX7RP, EGR3, FOXA1, FOXC2, FOXM1, FOXO3, NR3C2, and ZNF652. These transcription factors are involved in various cellular processes, including cell division, senescence, cell cycle regulation, and immune cell infiltration in breast cancer [4][5][6][7].…”