Role of copper in progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma [RNA-seq]

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element required for mitochondrial respiration. We show that Cu drives coordinated metabolic remodeling of bioenergy, biosynthesis and redox homeostasis and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Cu stimulates tumor growth. Late-stage ccRCCs accumulate Cu and allocate it to cytochrome c oxidase stimulating bioenergy production. Cu induces TCA cycle-dependent oxidation of glucose and its utilization for biosynthesis of a glutathione pool that protects against H2O2 generated during mitochondrial respiration, therefore coordinating bioenergy production with redox protection. 786-O RCC cells were adapted to 30 uM Cu in the culture media as a model to study the role of Cu in driving metabolic reprogramming in ccRCC. Control cells were treated identically except for the additon of Cu. RNA was extracted and processed for RNA-seq.