Tour-de-Force

Tour-de-Force: Interplay between Mitochondria and Cell Cycle Progression Fall 2007IntroductionMammalian cells going through the cell cycle are thought to have an energy checkpoint in the G1-phase,which is hypothesized to check whether energy levels are sufficient to proceed to S-phase. AMP-activatedprotein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in this checkpoint by measuring ATP availability through AMPlevels, since AMP levels increase as ATP levels drop. Activated AMPK is thought to have many effects inthe cell, the major ones of interest in our experiments being influences on cell cycle progression and arrestas well as energy production.Research goalThe goal of this research is to verify a proposed model of AMPK function in proliferating mammalian cells.We theorize that AMPK plays a role in multiple processes within the cell. Firstly, higher-than-normal levelsof activated AMPK induce cell cycle arrest, in some cases followed by apoptosis; secondly, high AMPKlevels upregulate certain mechanisms involved in energy production (Figure 2.1). These two processesare linked in a logical interdependent manner. As soon as AMPK activation exceeds a “threshold value”because of abnormally low levels of ATP (or rather, high levels of AMP), the first consequence observed iscell cycle arrest. The energy supply is insufficient for the cell (probably insufficient to successfullycomplete DNA synthesis, a demanding energy consuming process for which high levels of ATP areneeded). Therefore, instead of proceeding into S-phase, the cell cycle is halted in G1-phase.We theorize that at the same time, activated AMPK causes the upregulation of energy-producing,catabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation. This seems a logical consequence, sincethe apparent cause of the AMPK activity is abnormally low levels of energy; hence, the cell is in need ofincreased energy production. AMPK influence on energy producing mechanisms has been shown indifferentiated cells (Dyck & Lopaschuk, 2006).Furthermore, we know that AMPK activity can cause apoptosis. In our model, this is proposed as thecell's last resort: the energy level of the cell could not be restored sufficiently. Therefore, prolonged AMPKactivity, if unsuccessful in restoring normal energy levels leads to apoptosis. This research aims atconverging already established knowledge on AMPK and evaluating it in the context of the ongoing cellcycle and energy metabolism (see Figure 2.2).Figure 2.2: Proposed Model for AMPK functioning in the cell. Wepropose a model in which the three processes cell cycle arrest,energy-producing processes and apoptosis are linked in a logicalmannerRelated to AMPK’s regulation of cell cycle progression could be a potential effect of AMPK on themorphology of the mitochondrial network of a cell. Changes in the structure of the mitochondrial networkhave been postulated to be important in cell cycle progression, cell differentiation and apoptosis, as wellas energy producuction (McBride et al., 2006; Margineantu et al., 2002; Alirol & Martinou, 2006; Arakaki etSCI 332 Advanced Molecular Cell Biology Research Proposal 37