Mitochondrial calcium uniporter controls melanoma aggressive behavior through a redox-controlled phenotype switch

ABSTRACT: Melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancers and has a high tendency to metastasize to distant organs. Calcium and metabolic signals contribute to melanoma invasiveness; however, the underlying molecular details are elusive. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex is a major route for calcium into the mitochondrial matrix but if and how MCU affects melanoma pathobiology is not understood. Here, we show that MCUA expression correlates with melanoma patient survival, similarly as in kidney, cervical and other cancers, while in pancreatic, breast and liver cancer, this correlation is inverse. Knockdown (KD) of MCUA suppressed melanoma cell growth but promoted migration and invasion in 2D and 3D cultures. In melanoma xenografts, MCUA_KD reduced tumor volumes but promoted lung metastases. Proteomic analyses and protein microarrays identified pathways that link MCUA abundance and melanoma cell phenotype and suggested a major role for metabolic and redox regulation. Accordingly, antioxidants enhanced melanoma cell migration, while pro-oxidants diminished the MCUA_KD-induced invasive phenotype. Furthermore, MCUA_KD amplified the resistance of melanoma cells to immunotherapies and ferroptosis. Col¬lectively, we demonstrate that MCUA controls melanoma aggressive behavior and therapeutic sen¬sitivity. Manipulations of mitochondrial calcium and redox homeostasis, in combination with cur¬rent therapies, should be considered in treating advanced melanoma.

INSTRUMENT(S): TripleTOF 5600

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Melanocyte, Melanoma Cell

DISEASE(S): Skin Melanoma

SUBMITTER: Christof Lenz  

LAB HEAD: Christof Lenz

PROVIDER: PXD029132 | Pride | 2022-10-30

REPOSITORIES: Pride