MIRO2 Regulates Prostate Cancer Cell Growth via GCN1-Dependent Stress Signaling.

Unlabelled: There is a continued need to identify novel therapeutic targets to prevent the mortality associated with prostate cancer. In this context, mitochondrial Rho GTPase 2 (MIRO2) mRNA was upregulated in metastatic prostate cancer compared with localized tumors, and higher MIRO2 levels were correlated with poor patient survival. Using human cell lines that represent androgen-independent or -sensitive prostate cancer, we showed that MIRO2 depletion impaired cell growth, colony formation, and tumor growth in mice.

Hungry for Sex: Differential Roles for Locus Components in Haploid Cells vis à vis Nutritional Availability.

Mating-types allow single-celled eukaryotic organisms to distinguish self from non-self in preparation for sexual reproduction. The components of mating-type loci provide initial self/non-self-recognition through pheromone and receptor interactions that control early cell fusion events. However, they may also provide a second level of scrutiny that requires differences in alleles leading to production of a transcription factor required for successful downstream developmental pathways after initial cell fusion.

Altered mitochondrial trafficking as a novel mechanism of cancer metastasis.

Background: Mammalian cells must constantly reprogram the distribution of mitochondria in order to meet the local demands for energy, calcium, redox balance, and other mitochondrial functions. Mitochondrial localization inside the cell is a result of a combination of movement along the microtubule tracks plus anchoring to actin filaments.

Recent Findings: Recent advances show that subcellular distribution of mitochondria can regulate tumor cell growth, proliferation/motility plasticity, metastatic competence, and therapy responses in tumors.