Surface Complex V couples proton gradient across the plasma membrane to ATP production in cancer
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Cancer cells alter their metabolism to support growth and survival, most notably by fermenting glucose to lactate even in the presence of oxygen, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Although this metabolic state has been recognized for decades, its bioenergetic advantages remain unclear, as fermentation produces less net ATP than mitochondrial respiration. How aerobic fermentation contributes to cellular energy balance therefore remains unresolved. Here, we show that extracellular acidification generated by lactate export creates a proton gradient across the plasma membrane that is harnessed by ectopic ATP synthases to drive intracellular ATP production. We find that ATP synthase and proton-shuttling components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain translocate to the plasma membrane in cancer cells and are preferentially oriented to exploit this gradient, linking a hallmark of aerobic fermentation directly to energy supplementation. This work provides a mechanistic resolution to the apparent energetic inefficiency of the Warburg paradigm and identifies a previously unrecognized pathway for energy complementation in cancer.
Source: Research Square
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Research to Prevent Blindness, University of Miami, Florida Department of Health, Moffitt Cancer Center, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health Systems, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Awards: G305175183, G362094, G426147107, 3-Dimensional Retinal Organoid Platform for the Study of Retinoblastoma, G4551976579, G800051844, G8135003176, Moffitt Cancer Center Support Grant, Medical Scientist Training Program, The Sylvester Cancer Center Support Grant, Miami Center for Vision Research
OpenAlex ID: W7162022139