Question

Scientists are discovering a connection between mutations in the genes that encode mitochondrial complexes and higher incidence of certain types of cancer. Explain why there may be a correlation between the two in that defective mitochondria complexes may be a cause of certain types of cancer. Research and explain.

Answer 1

Mitochondria play important roles in cellular energy metabolism, free radical generation that help in cell growth.Mitochondrial defects have long been suspected to play an important role in the development and progression of cancer. These defects include altered expression and activity of respiratory chain subunits and glycolytic enzymes, decreased oxidation of NADH-linked substrates, as well as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations.
This can enhance the mutagenic/clonogenic potential of the cell as observed for influences the metastatic potential in later stages of cancer progression.

Otto Warburg researched on mitochondrial respiration alterations in the context of cancer and proposed a mechanism to explain how they evolve during the carcinogenic process.
The main event in carcinogenesis involved the development of an "injury" to the respiratory machinery, resulting in compensatory increases in glycolytic ATP production.The malignant cell get more energy to fulfill cellular energy requirements.The differences in energy metabolism normal cell and malignant cell , constitute a strategy that developed cancer cells due to their inherently compromised respiratory state .

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