Opinion - Proteomic analysis of cancer-cell mitochondria

Mitochondrial dysfunction and mutations in mitochondrial DNA have been frequently reported in cancer cells. Mitochondrial gene-expression signatures of transformed cells have been identified; however, the phenotypic effects of these genetic alterations remain to be established. Identification of mitochondrial proteins that are aberrantly expressed in cancer cells has been made possible by the recent development of mitochonddal functional proteomics and could identify new markers for early detection and risk assessment, as well as targets for therapeutic intervention.