Mitochondrial Shapeshifting and mitochondrial RNA Modifications in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines: Impacts on Metabolic Reprogramming and Cell Invasiveness

Faculty Development Competitive Research Grants Program 2025-2027

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a significant global health challenge and a deeper understanding of the molecular complexities underlying its pathogenesis is needed. The sophisticated connections between cancer metabolism (specifically mitochondrial respiration), mitochondrial dynamics, and especially mitochondrial RNA modifications (MRM) are relatively unexplored. Mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion and fission, are crucial for maintaining mitochondrial function, cellular energy production, and overall cellular homeostasis. Mitochondrial RNA modifications as a critical factor in cellular metabolism and cancer progression via regulation of mitochondrial gene expression and function is an emerging field. The effect of mitochondrial dynamics changes on MRM to modify tumor development and metastasis has not been elucidated yet. In this project, we hypothesize that the alterations of mitochondrial dynamics affect the MRM in CRC cell lines and impact mitochondrial function and their own translation machinery. These disruptions direct cellular metabolic rewiring, potentially leading to the development of invasive CRCs. The primary purpose of this research project is to investigate the interplay of mitochondrial dynamics and MRM in metabolic remodeling and their subsequent impact on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CRC cell lines.