New finding: amino acid is the biggest material source of cancer cells

Cancer cells maintain their mad proliferation primarily by consuming glucose. Scientists have always thought that most of the constituent materials of cancer cells come from glucose. MIT researchers recently found that although cancer cells consume relatively less amino acids, they are the largest source of materials of cancer cells. The study was published in the journal Developmental Cell on March 7th.

We all know the capacity way of cancer cells is different with normal cells. Human cells decompose glucose through a series of complex chemical aerobic reactions, while the tumor cells need to switch to fermentation process without oxygen. This metabolic strategy has lower efficiency and the energy it generates is much less. Some researchers believe that cancer cells use this inefficient metabolic strategy for the new cells to produce basic materials.

Researchers developed several different types of cancer cells and normal cells in vitro, providing them with different marker nutrients of carbon and nitrogen and traced the ultimate fate of these molecules. The researchers also measured the cells mass before and after the division of the cell mass to calculate the proportion of each nutrient in the newborn cell mass.

Studies confirm that the majority of glucose is decomposed by cells and generates lactic acid, thus it becomes useless for cells. Although the speed of cells consuming glucose and glutamine is quite quick, the quality of both molecules contributes little to new cells' quality: glucose contributes 10-15% carbon; glutamine contributes about 10% carbon. Other amino acid besides glutamine has greatest contribution to cells. The carbon atoms coming from this source account for 20-40% of the total cell mass. This study provides a new way for people to study cancer cell metabolism and helps to develop new drugs to block the ability of cancer cells to grow and divide.

Phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK1) glycolysis "gatekeepers" responsible for a key step in the catalytic glycolysis pathway, so that the fruit-6-phosphate into fructose-1,6-diphosphate. Metabolites and hormone signaling through activation and inhibition PFK1, glycolysis is adjusted to meet the energy needs of cells. The research team of the University of California and Columbia University won the first mammal PFK1 tetramer (human platelet-type phosphofructokinase PFKP) high-resolution texture. Research indicates that the target PFK1 active treatment is expected to control the disease in disorders of glycolysis.

Tumor growth requires cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) to provide key metabolites. These cells undergo reprogramming to support metabolic glycolysis. However, it is the molecular mechanism of this change is still poorly understood. Shanghai Jiaotong University and the research team at the University of Kentucky found that, IDH3α down CAF is a key metabolic reprogramming switch capable of making the transition from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. The results are published in the journal Cell Reports, the corresponding authors of the article are Huabing Zhou from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Mi Army from the University of Kentucky.

Related reading: http://www.cusabio.com/Polyclonal-Antibody/SLC34A2-Antibody-Biotin-conjugated-11106195.html