Golgi Acidification by NHE7 Regulates Cytosolic pH Homeostasis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Abstract
Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet elevated energy demands and favor glycolysis for energy production. This boost in glycolytic flux supports proliferation, but also generates acid in the form of hydrogen ions that must be eliminated from the cytoplasm to maintain the alkaline intracellular pH (pHi) associated with transformation. To cope with acid production, tumor cells employ ion transport systems, including the family of sodium–hydrogen exchangers (NHE). Here, we identify NHE7 as a novel regulator of pHi in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We determine that NHE7 suppression causes alkalinization of the Golgi, leading to a buildup of cytosolic acid that diminishes tumor cell fitness mainly through the dysregulation of actin. Importantly, NHE7 knockdown in vivo leads to the abrogation of tumor growth. These results identify Golgi acidification as a mechanism to control pHi and point to the regulation of pHi as a possible therapeutic vulnerability in PDAC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-19-1007
Entities
People
- Cosimo Commisso
- Giovanni Brandi
- Hudson H. Freeze
- Koen M O Galenkamp
- M. Victoria Recouvreux
- Matthew R. Moldenhauer
- Michael Jung
- Paulina Sosicka
- Yijuan Zhang
Organizations
- American Association for Cancer Research
- National Cancer Institute
- National Institutes of Health
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
- United States Department of Defense