Mitochondria are the central regulator of apoptosis, a process initiated by the activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP), an aggregate of several mitochondrial proteins. When this pore opens, the critical membrane polarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane disappears and ions equilibrate between the matrix and cytosol resulting in mitochondrial swelling. This leads to release of the contents of the mitochondrial intermembrane space into the cell cytosol, including a number of cell death promoting factors killing the cell. The mtPTP can be activated by uptake of excessive Ca++;increased oxidative stress;decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced ADP and ATP. It is generally agreed upon that repression of apoptosis is one of the fundamental steps in tumorigenesis. Cancer cells acquire unresponsiveness to apoptosis facilitating signals, thus enabling uncontrolled proliferation. For this reason, the induction of apoptosis is one of the modes of actions of chemotherapeutic compounds. In order to allow further high throughput studies of the biochemical facilitators and inhibitors, of apoptosis, and to determine if changes in individual mitochondrial membrane potential P are important to cellular metabolism, we need to develop a system to monitor P in individual mitochondria. To accomplish this objective, we propose to extend studies that have monitored the action potentials in neurons using an array of parallel electrodes to which the mitochondria are adhered. Our thesis is that a nanoelectrode technology can be developed to capacitively measure membrane potential across the mitochondrial inner membrane phospholipid bilayer without actually penetrating the membrane. We propose to develop nano-electrical transduction sensor arrays with sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution to monitor the charge changes on the surface of a mitochondrion sized lipid vesicle and the individual mitoplast. With this technology, we will then interrogate the regulation of P in normal and cancer cells. Several key features on mitochondrial metabolism are now recognized as important to the alteration of cancer cell mitochondrial function: changes in the Akt signal transduction pathway, induction of hexokinase II, alteration an adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) isoform expression, down regulation of the SOC2 cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV, COX) assembly factor, mutation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, and modulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP) and its interaction with the pro- and anti- apoptotic Bcl2 family proteins. While all of these are important factors in the alteration of cancer cell metabolism, they still fall short of explaining the near universal alterations in mitochondrial function observed in cancer cells. A high throughput technology to monitor P in mitochondria will allow further studies of these issues in cancer biology.

Public Health Relevance

In order to allow further high throughput studies of the biochemical facilitators and inhibitors, of apoptosis, and to determine if changes in individual mitochondrial membrane potential ?P are important to cellular metabolism, we need to develop a system to monitor ?P in individual mitochondria. We propose to develop nano-electrical transduction sensor arrays. With this technology, we will then interrogate the regulation of ?P in normal and cancer cells. A high throughput technology to monitor ?P in mitochondria will allow further studies in cancer biology that explain the near universal alterations in mitochondrial function observed in cancer cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21CA143351-01
Application #
7778178
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-R (O1))
Program Officer
Knowlton, John R
Project Start
2010-03-15
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2010-03-15
Budget End
2011-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$243,165
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Irvine
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
046705849
City
Irvine
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92697
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Burke, Peter J (2017) Mitochondria, Bioenergetics and Apoptosis in Cancer. Trends Cancer 3:857-870
Pham, Ted D; Wallace, Douglas C; Burke, Peter J (2016) Microchambers with Solid-State Phosphorescent Sensor for Measuring Single Mitochondrial Respiration. Sensors (Basel) 16:
Zhou, Weiwei; Wang, Yung Yu; Lim, Tae-Sun et al. (2015) Detection of single ion channel activity with carbon nanotubes. Sci Rep 5:9208
Picard, Martin; McManus, Meagan J; Csordás, György et al. (2015) Trans-mitochondrial coordination of cristae at regulated membrane junctions. Nat Commun 6:6259
Wang, Yung Yu; Burke, Peter J (2014) Polyelectrolyte multilayer electrostatic gating of graphene field-effect transistors. Nano Res 7:1650-1658
Wang, Yung Yu; Pham, Ted D; Zand, Katayoun et al. (2014) Charging the quantum capacitance of graphene with a single biological ion channel. ACS Nano 8:4228-38
Picard, Martin; Gentil, Benoit J; McManus, Meagan J et al. (2013) Acute exercise remodels mitochondrial membrane interactions in mouse skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol (1985) 115:1562-71
Zand, Katayoun; Pham, Ted; Davila Jr, Antonio et al. (2013) Nanofluidic platform for single mitochondria analysis using fluorescence microscopy. Anal Chem 85:6018-25
Lim, Tae-Sun; Davila Jr, Antonio; Zand, Katayoun et al. (2012) Wafer-scale mitochondrial membrane potential assays. Lab Chip 12:2719-25

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