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Title: Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration

Abstract

Highlights: • Betaine enhances cytochrome c oxidase activity and mitochondrial respiration. • Betaine increases mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular energy levels. • Betaine’s anti-tumorigenic effect might be due to a reversal of the Warburg effect. - Abstract: Betaine protects cells from environmental stress and serves as a methyl donor in several biochemical pathways. It reduces cardiovascular disease risk and protects liver cells from alcoholic liver damage and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Its pretreatment can rescue cells exposed to toxins such as rotenone, chloroform, and LiCl. Furthermore, it has been suggested that betaine can suppress cancer cell growth in vivo and in vitro. Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes generate the mitochondrial membrane potential, which is essential to produce cellular energy, ATP. Reduced mitochondrial respiration and energy status have been found in many human pathological conditions including aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. In this study we investigated whether betaine directly targets mitochondria. We show that betaine treatment leads to an upregulation of mitochondrial respiration and cytochrome c oxidase activity in H2.35 cells, the proposed rate limiting enzyme of ETC in vivo. Following treatment, the mitochondrial membrane potential was increased and cellular energy levels were elevated. We propose that the anti-proliferative effects of betainemore » on cancer cells might be due to enhanced mitochondrial function contributing to a reversal of the Warburg effect.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22416893
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 456; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; AGING; ATP; BETAINE; CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES; CHLOROFORM; IN VITRO; IN VIVO; LITHIUM CHLORIDES; LIVER; LIVER CELLS; MEMBRANES; METABOLISM; MITOCHONDRIA; NEOPLASMS; NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; OXIDASES; OXIDATION; PHOSPHORYLATION; TOXINS

Citation Formats

Lee, Icksoo. Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/J.BBRC.2014.12.005.
Lee, Icksoo. Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2014.12.005
Lee, Icksoo. 2015. "Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2014.12.005.
@article{osti_22416893,
title = {Betaine is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration},
author = {Lee, Icksoo},
abstractNote = {Highlights: • Betaine enhances cytochrome c oxidase activity and mitochondrial respiration. • Betaine increases mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular energy levels. • Betaine’s anti-tumorigenic effect might be due to a reversal of the Warburg effect. - Abstract: Betaine protects cells from environmental stress and serves as a methyl donor in several biochemical pathways. It reduces cardiovascular disease risk and protects liver cells from alcoholic liver damage and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Its pretreatment can rescue cells exposed to toxins such as rotenone, chloroform, and LiCl. Furthermore, it has been suggested that betaine can suppress cancer cell growth in vivo and in vitro. Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes generate the mitochondrial membrane potential, which is essential to produce cellular energy, ATP. Reduced mitochondrial respiration and energy status have been found in many human pathological conditions including aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. In this study we investigated whether betaine directly targets mitochondria. We show that betaine treatment leads to an upregulation of mitochondrial respiration and cytochrome c oxidase activity in H2.35 cells, the proposed rate limiting enzyme of ETC in vivo. Following treatment, the mitochondrial membrane potential was increased and cellular energy levels were elevated. We propose that the anti-proliferative effects of betaine on cancer cells might be due to enhanced mitochondrial function contributing to a reversal of the Warburg effect.},
doi = {10.1016/J.BBRC.2014.12.005},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22416893}, journal = {Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications},
issn = {0006-291X},
number = 2,
volume = 456,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}