Ethylmalonic Encephalopathy Protein 1 (
ETHE1
) is a sulfur dioxygenase that regulates cellular H
2
S levels. We previously demonstrated a significant increase of
ETHE1
expression in "single-hit" colon epithelial cells from crypts of patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). Here, we report elevated levels of
ETHE1
expression and increased mitochondrial density occurring in-situ in phenotypically normal FAP colorectal mucosa. We also found that constitutive expression of
ETHE1
increased aerobic glycolysis ("Warburg effect"), oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial biogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, thereby depleting H
2
S which relieved the inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE), and increased adenosine monophosphate (AMP) levels. This led to activation of the energy sensing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKp), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α), a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. By contrast, shRNA silencing of
ETHE1
reduced PDE activity, AMPKp/SIRT1/PGC1α levels and mitochondrial biogenesis. Constitutive expression of
ETHE1
accelerated both CRC cell xenograft and orthotopic patient derived xenograft CRC cell growth
in vivo
. Overall, our data nominate elevated
ETHE1 expression levels
as a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for the prevention of CRC tumorigenesis.