The 2-oxoglutarate/malate carrier extends the family of mitochondrial carriers capable of fatty acid and 2,4-dinitrophenol-activated proton transport

AimsMetabolic reprogramming in cancer cells has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. The mitochondrial 2-oxoglutarate/malate carrier (OGC) has been suggested as a potential target for preventing cancer progression. Although OGC is involved in the malate/aspartate shuttle, its exact role in cancer metabolism remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether OGC may contribute to the alteration of mitochondrial inner membrane potential by transporting protons.MethodsThe expression of OGC in mouse tissues and cancer cells was investigated by PCR and Western blot analysis. The proton transport function of recombinant murine OGC was evaluated by measuring the membrane conductance (Gm) of planar lipid bilayers. OGC-mediated substrate transport was measured in proteoliposomes using 14C-malate.ResultsOGC increases proton Gm only in the presence of natural (long-chain fatty acids, FA) or chemical (2,4-dinitrophenol) protonophores. The increase in OGC activity directly correlates with the increase in the number of unsaturated bonds of the FA. OGC substrates and inhibitors compete with FA for the same protein binding site. Arginine 90 was identified as a critical amino acid for the binding of FA, ATP, 2-oxoglutarate, and malate, which is a first step towards understanding the OGC-mediated proton transport mechanism.ConclusionOGC extends the family of mitochondrial transporters with dual function: (i) metabolite transport and (ii) proton transport facilitated in the presence of protonophores. Elucidating the contribution of OGC to uncoupling may be essential for the design of targeted drugs for the treatment of cancer and other metabolic diseases.

• The Role of the Solute Carrier 25 Proteins in Diseases.
• The Role of the Solute Carrier 25 Proteins in Fatty Acid and 2,4-Dinitrophenol-Mediated Proton Transport.

Stanford University
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute
Boltzmann Institut, Inst. f. Traumatologie, Lorenz Böhler KH, Wien