EXD2: A new regulator of mitochondrial translation and potential target for cancer therapy

Abstract

In recent work we identified Exonuclease 3′−5′ domain-containing protein 2 (EXD2) as an RNase required for efficient mitochondrial translation. Here I describe in brief the cellular phenotypes caused by EXD2 deficiency and make the case that EXD2 inhibitors could be valuable agents for cancer therapy.

Keywords

• exd2
• mitochondria
• metabolic reprogramming
• metformin
• cancer metabolism
• translation
• glutamine
• biology of malignant cells
• cancer stem cells
• mode of action of anticancer agents
• tumor metabolism