Mike Berridge

Biography

Professor Mike Berridge completed his postgraduate degree in cell biology at the University of Auckland in 1971. Following postdoctoral research at Purdue University, USA, and the National Institute for Medical Research, UK, Prof Berridge returned to Wellington in 1976 as the second Malaghan Research Fellow. He established the Cancer Cell Biology Research Group and received a James Cook Fellowship in health sciences from 2003 to 2005.

Research Interest

The main focus of the Cancer Cell Biology Group’s research is on discovery. It applies new knowledge and methodologies about cells, cell systems and more complex tissues and organs to the treatment of human diseases with a particular emphasis on cancer and diseases involving altered energy metabolism. Over the past few years we have shown that energy-producing mitochondria together with their small compact genome move between cells in the body. This novel discovery challenged the widely-held dogma that genes remain within cells. Using melanoma and breast cancer cells without mitochondrial DNA developed in our laboratory, we showed that tumours formed only after a long lag period, and that these tumours acquired mitochondrial DNA and therefore mitochondria from normal cells in the surrounding tissue. These rebuilt tumour cells recovered their energy-producing potential and spread to other organs. We have now extended this research to an aggressive brain tumour and shown that mitochondrial transfer also occurs in the brain. This is the beginning of a research journey because we do not know the cellular origin of mitochondria acquired by the disabled tumour cells or the signals driving intercellular movement; we do not know whether mitochondrial movement between cells occurs normally in the body to replace damaged mitochondria and we can only speculate about the role of mitochondrial trafficking in human diseases and in ageing.   In current Marsden-funded research, we are investigating whether mitochondrial transfer between cells contributes to successful bone marrow transplantation in human patients who receive unrelated donor marrow for blood cell disorders. Parallel mouse bone marrow transplantation experiments will add to our understanding of this process because we have available a toolkit of genetic and fluorescence-based investigational tools. These tools will also be applied to brain tumour models and to other brain disease models we are developing. In summary, we have opened a window of opportunity to explore a new cellular phenomenon that has the potential to positively impact human health and the treatment of diseases. We will investigate the wider implications of our discovery and work closely with collaborators at Victoria University of Wellington and internationally to progress these and emergent research initiatives.