Mitochondrial alterations in human gastric carcinoma cell line

We compared mitochondrial function, morphology, and proteome in the rat normal gastric cell line RGM-1 and the human gastric cancer cell line AGS. Total numbers and cross-sectional sizes of mitochondria were smaller in AGS cells. Mitochondria in AGS cells were deformed and consumed less oxygen. Confocal microscopy indicated that the mitochondrial inner membrane potential was hyperpolarized and the rnitochondrial Ca2+ concentration was elevated in AGS cells. Interestingly. two-dimensional electrophoresis proteomics on the mitochon dria-enriched fraction revealed high expression of four mitochondrial proteins in AGS cells: ubiquinol-cytochroine c reductase, mitochondrial short-chain enoyl-cocnzyme A hydratase-1, heat shock protein 60. and motochondria elongation factor Tu. The results provide clues as to the mechanism of the mitochondrial changes in cancer at the protein level and may serve as potential cancer biomarkers in mitochondria.