Connecting copper and cancer: From transition metal signalling to metalloplasia Review


Authors: Ge, E. J.; Bush, A. I.; Casini, A.; Cobine, P. A.; Cross, J. R.; DeNicola, G. M.; Dou, Q. P.; Franz, K. J.; Gohil, V. M.; Gupta, S.; Kaler, S. G.; Lutsenko, S.; Mittal, V.; Petris, M. J.; Polishchuk, R.; Ralle, M.; Schilsky, M. L.; Tonks, N. K.; Vahdat, L. T.; Van Aelst, L.; Xi, D.; Yuan, P.; Brady, D. C.; Chang, C. J.
Review Title: Connecting copper and cancer: From transition metal signalling to metalloplasia
Abstract: Copper is an essential nutrient whose redox properties make it both beneficial and toxic to the cell. Recent progress in studying transition metal signalling has forged new links between researchers of different disciplines that can help translate basic research in the chemistry and biology of copper into clinical therapies and diagnostics to exploit copper-dependent disease vulnerabilities. This concept is particularly relevant in cancer, as tumour growth and metastasis have a heightened requirement for this metal nutrient. Indeed, the traditional view of copper as solely an active site metabolic cofactor has been challenged by emerging evidence that copper is also a dynamic signalling metal and metalloallosteric regulator, such as for copper-dependent phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) in lipolysis, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1) and MEK2 in cell growth and proliferation and the kinases ULK1 and ULK2 in autophagy. In this Perspective, we summarize our current understanding of the connection between copper and cancer and explore how challenges in the field could be addressed by using the framework of cuproplasia, which is defined as regulated copper-dependent cell proliferation and is a representative example of a broad range of metalloplasias. Cuproplasia is linked to a diverse array of cellular processes, including mitochondrial respiration, antioxidant defence, redox signalling, kinase signalling, autophagy and protein quality control. Identifying and characterizing new modes of copper-dependent signalling offers translational opportunities that leverage disease vulnerabilities to this metal nutrient. © 2021, Springer Nature Limited.
Keywords: signal transduction; unclassified drug; review; nonhuman; cell proliferation; quality control; mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1; mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 2; protein serine threonine kinase; tumor growth; copper; oxidation reduction reaction; chelation; cell hyperplasia; mitochondrial respiration; transition element; protein quality; phosphodiesterase; human; malignant neoplasm; serine threonine protein kinase ulk1; redox signaling; autophagy (cellular); copper dependent phosphodiesterase 3b; serine threonine protein kinase ulk2; copper metabolism; cuproplasia
Journal Title: Nature Reviews Cancer
Volume: 22
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1474-175X
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2022-02-01
Start Page: 102
End Page: 113
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00417-2
PUBMED: 34764459
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8810673
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Export Date: 1 March 2022 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Justin Robert Cross
    111 Cross
  2. Linda T Vahdat
    43 Vahdat