Cancer Cell Metabolism Kills (IMAGE)
Caption
Scientists have discovered that low levels of ATP make cancer gene expressing cells suicidal. Declining ATP levels activate a cellular energy sensor AMPK, which adds a phosphate group to tumor suppressor protein p53, extending the protein's lifetime. This form of p53 moves to mitochondria to activate a cell death protein Bak, which renders cells sensitive to apoptosis. In this immunofluorescence microscope image of cancer gene Myc expressing cells, active death protein Bak appears as green spots localizing on the surface of the mitochondria. The blue staining marks the cell nuclei.
Credit
Juha Klefstrom Research Group / University of Helsinki
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