In an unexpected twist, the humble yeast used to brew your favorite beer might hold the key to revolutionizing cancer treatment. Scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, collaborating with researchers at EMBL in Germany, have uncovered a surprising survival strategy in yeast cells that could unlock new ways to combat cancer.
The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals how a common brewing yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe), can essentially hibernate when faced with nutrient shortages. This ability to “go dormant” bears a striking resemblance to how cancer cells survive in nutrient-deprived environments, making this discovery potentially game-changing for cancer research.
“Cells can take a break when things get tough by going into deep sleep in order to stay alive, then at a later point they seemingly just come back. That’s why we need to understand the basics of adaptation to starvation and how these cells become dormant to stay alive and avoid death,” explains Dr. Ahmad Jomaa, a researcher from UVA’s Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, in a media release.
Why study beer yeast to understand cancer?
S. pombe has been a brewer’s friend for centuries, but it’s also a scientist’s best pal. This yeast shares remarkable similarities with human cells, making it an invaluable research tool for understanding cellular processes in both healthy and cancerous cells.
Using cutting-edge imaging techniques called cryo-electron microscopy and tomography – think of it as a super-powerful 3D microscope – the research team made a startling discovery. When yeast cells face starvation, they wrap their cellular batteries, known as mitochondria, in an unexpected blanket. This blanket is made up of deactivated ribosomes, which are usually responsible for producing proteins in the cell.
“We knew that cells will try to save energy and shut down their ribosomes, but we were not expecting them to attach in an up-side state on the mitochondria,” says Maciej Gluc, a graduate student involved in the study.
This peculiar “upside-down” attachment had never been observed before and could be the key to understanding how cells enter and exit dormancy. While the exact reason for this unusual behavior remains a mystery, the researchers have some theories.
“There could be different explanations. A starved cell will eventually start digesting itself, so the ribosomes might be coating the mitochondria to protect them. They might also attach to trigger a signaling cascade inside the mitochondria,” suggests Dr. Simone Mattei from EMBL.
How does this relate to cancer?
Cancer cells, in their relentless growth, often face nutrient shortages. To survive, they can slip into a dormant state, becoming “invisible” to our immune system and resistant to treatments. Understanding how cells enter and exit this dormant state could lead to new strategies for targeting cancer cells, potentially improving patient outcomes and preventing relapses.
Dr. Jomaa and his team are now setting their sights on the next big question: how do cells wake up from this deep sleep? They plan to continue their work with yeast while also investigating the process in cultured cancer cells, though Jomaa admits this is “not an easy task.” The ultimate goal? To discover new markers that can track dormant cancer cells.
“These cells are not easily detected in diagnostic settings,” Jomaa explains, “but we are hopeful that our research will generate more interest in helping us reach our goal.”
This groundbreaking research was conducted at the UVA Cancer Center, one of only 57 “comprehensive” cancer centers recognized by the National Cancer Institute for excellence in cancer research and treatment.
While we’re still a long way from seeing these findings translated into new cancer treatments, this study offers a fascinating glimpse into the unexpected connections between the ancient art of brewing and cutting-edge cancer research. It’s a reminder that in science, breakthrough insights can come from the most unlikely places – even the bottom of your beer glass.