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Plant Signaling & Behavior Mar 2021Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-carbon, non-protein amino acid. GABA has been widely studied in animal central nervous systems, where it acts as an... (Review)
Review
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-carbon, non-protein amino acid. GABA has been widely studied in animal central nervous systems, where it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. In plants, it is metabolized through the GABA shunt pathway, a bypass of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Additionally, it can be synthesized through the polyamine metabolic pathway. GABA acts as a signal in -mediated plant gene transformation and in plant development, especially in pollen tube elongation (to enter the ovule), root growth, fruit ripening, and seed germination. It is accumulated during plant responses to environmental stresses and pathogen and insect attacks. A high concentration of GABA elevates plant stress tolerance by improving photosynthesis, inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activating antioxidant enzymes, and regulating stomatal opening in drought stress. The transporters of GABA in plants are reviewed in this work. We summarize the recent research on GABA function and transporters with the goal of providing a review of GABA in plants.
Topics: GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Plants; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 33404284
DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2020.1862565 -
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... Dec 2020The metabolic complexity and flexibility commonly observed in brain tumors, especially glioblastoma, is fundamental for their development and progression. The ability of... (Review)
Review
The metabolic complexity and flexibility commonly observed in brain tumors, especially glioblastoma, is fundamental for their development and progression. The ability of tumor cells to modify their genetic landscape and adapt metabolically, subverts therapeutic efficacy, and inevitably instigates therapeutic resistance. To overcome these challenges and develop effective therapeutic strategies targeting essential metabolic processes, it is necessary to identify the mechanisms underlying heterogeneity and define metabolic preferences and liabilities of malignant cells. In this review, we will discuss metabolic diversity in brain cancer and highlight the role of cancer stem cells in regulating metabolic heterogeneity. We will also highlight potential therapeutic modalities targeting metabolic vulnerabilities and examine how intercellular metabolic signaling can shape the tumor microenvironment.
Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Genetic Heterogeneity; Glioblastoma; Glycolysis; Humans; Metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Signal Transduction; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 32506168
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03569-w -
Phytochemistry Sep 2022Microalgae are important primary producers and form the basis for the marine food web. As global climate changes, so do salinity levels that algae are exposed to. A...
Microalgae are important primary producers and form the basis for the marine food web. As global climate changes, so do salinity levels that algae are exposed to. A metabolic response of algal cells partly alleviates the resulting osmotic stress. Some metabolites involved in the response are well studied, but the full metabolic implications of adaptation remain unclear. Improved analytical methodology provides an opportunity for additional insight. We can now follow responses to stress in major parts of the metabolome and derive comprehensive charts of the resulting metabolic re-wiring. In this study, we subjected three species of diatoms to high salinity conditions and compared their metabolome to controls in an untargeted manner. The three well-investigated species with sequenced genomes Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira pseudonana, and Skeletonema marinoi were selected for our survey. The microalgae react to salinity stress with common adaptations in the metabolome by amino acid up-regulation, production of saccharides, and inositols. But also species-specific dysregulation of metabolites is common. Several metabolites previously not connected with osmotic stress reactions are identified, including 4-hydroxyproline, pipecolinic acid, myo-inositol, threonic acid, and acylcarnitines. This expands our knowledge about osmoadaptation and calls for further functional characterization of metabolites and pathways in algal stress physiology.
Topics: Acclimatization; Diatoms; Metabolome; Microalgae; Salinity
PubMed: 35671808
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113267 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023The ability to generate thermogenic fat could be a targeted therapy to thwart obesity and improve metabolic health. Brown and beige adipocytes are two types of... (Review)
Review
The ability to generate thermogenic fat could be a targeted therapy to thwart obesity and improve metabolic health. Brown and beige adipocytes are two types of thermogenic fat cells that regulate energy balance. Both adipocytes share common morphological, biochemical, and thermogenic properties. Yet, recent evidence suggests unique features exist between brown and beige adipocytes, such as their cellular origin and thermogenic regulatory processes. Beige adipocytes also appear highly plastic, responding to environmental stimuli and interconverting between beige and white adipocyte states. Additionally, beige adipocytes appear to be metabolically heterogenic and have substrate specificity. Nevertheless, obese and aged individuals cannot develop beige adipocytes in response to thermogenic fat-inducers, creating a key clinical hurdle to their therapeutic promise. Thus, elucidating the underlying developmental, molecular, and functional mechanisms that govern thermogenic fat cells will improve our understanding of systemic energy regulation and strive for new targeted therapies to generate thermogenic fat. This review will examine the recent advances in thermogenic fat biogenesis, molecular regulation, and the potential mechanisms for their failure.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue, Brown; Adipocytes, Beige; Energy Metabolism; Obesity
PubMed: 37020585
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1150059 -
Molecular Pharmacology Feb 2018Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor considered to be a master xenobiotic receptor that coordinately regulates the expression of genes encoding... (Review)
Review
Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor considered to be a master xenobiotic receptor that coordinately regulates the expression of genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters to essentially detoxify and eliminate xenobiotics and endotoxins from the body. In the past several years, the function of PXR in the regulation of xenobiotic metabolism has been extensively studied, and the role of PXR as a xenobiotic sensor has been well established. It is now clear, however, that PXR plays many other roles in addition to its xenobiotic-sensing function. For instance, recent studies have discovered previously unidentified roles of PXR in inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and cell migration. PXR also contributes to the dysregulation of these processes in diseases states. These recent discoveries of the role of PXR in the physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions of other cellular processes provides the possibility of novel targets for drug discovery. This review highlights areas of PXR regulation that require further clarification and summarizes the recent progress in our understanding of the nonxenobiotic functions of PXR that can be explored for relevant therapeutic applications.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; DNA Damage; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Inflammation; Pregnane X Receptor; Xenobiotics
PubMed: 29113993
DOI: 10.1124/mol.117.110155 -
Physiology & Behavior Dec 2015Until recently, the general belief was that non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) were healthy sugar substitutes because they provide sweet taste without calories or glycemic... (Review)
Review
Until recently, the general belief was that non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) were healthy sugar substitutes because they provide sweet taste without calories or glycemic effects. However, data from several epidemiological studies have found that consumption of NNSs, mainly in diet sodas, is associated with increased risk to develop obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. The main purpose of this article is to review recent scientific evidence supporting potential mechanisms that explain how "metabolically inactive" NNSs, which have few, if any, calories, might promote metabolic dysregulation. Three potential mechanisms, which are not mutually exclusive, are presented: 1) NNSs interfere with learned responses that contribute to control glucose and energy homeostasis, 2) NNSs interfere with gut microbiota and induce glucose intolerance, and 3) NNSs interact with sweet-taste receptors expressed throughout the digestive system that play a role in glucose absorption and trigger insulin secretion. In addition, recent findings from our laboratory showing an association between individual taste sensitivity to detect sucralose and sucralose's acute effects on metabolic response to an oral glucose load are reported. Taken as a whole, data support the notion that NNSs have metabolic effects. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which NNSs may drive metabolic dysregulation and better understand potential effects of these commonly used food additives.
Topics: Animals; Energy Metabolism; Enteroendocrine Cells; Humans; Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
PubMed: 26095119
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.06.024 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2022Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. The development of molecular and biochemical techniques has expanded the... (Review)
Review
Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. The development of molecular and biochemical techniques has expanded the knowledge of changes occurring in specific metabolic pathways of cancer cells. Increased aerobic glycolysis, the promotion of anaplerotic responses, and especially the dependence of cells on glutamine and fatty acid metabolism have become subjects of study. Despite many cancer treatment strategies, many patients with neoplastic diseases cannot be completely cured due to the development of resistance in cancer cells to currently used therapeutic approaches. It is now becoming a priority to develop new treatment strategies that are highly effective and have few side effects. In this review, we present the current knowledge of the enzymes involved in the different steps of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway, and possible targeted therapies. The review also focuses on presenting the differences between cancer cells and normal cells in terms of metabolic phenotype. Knowledge of cancer cell metabolism is constantly evolving, and further research is needed to develop new strategies for anti-cancer therapies.
Topics: Citric Acid Cycle; Energy Metabolism; Glycolysis; Humans; Neoplasms; Pentose Phosphate Pathway
PubMed: 35628385
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105572 -
Molecular Metabolism Mar 2020It has been known for close to a century that, on average, tumors have a metabolism that is different from those found in healthy tissues. Typically, tumors show a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
It has been known for close to a century that, on average, tumors have a metabolism that is different from those found in healthy tissues. Typically, tumors show a biosynthetic metabolism that distinguishes itself by engaging in large scale aerobic glycolysis, heightened flux through the pentose phosphate pathway, and increased glutaminolysis among other means. However, it is becoming equally clear that non tumorous tissues at times can engage in similar metabolism, while tumors show a high degree of metabolic flexibility reacting to cues, and stresses in their local environment.
SCOPE OF THE REVIEW
In this review, we want to scrutinize historic and recent research on metabolism, comparing and contrasting oncogenic and physiological metabolic states. This will allow us to better define states of bona fide tumor metabolism. We will further contextualize the stress response and the metabolic evolutionary trajectory seen in tumors, and how these contribute to tumor progression. Lastly, we will analyze the implications of these characteristics with respect to therapy response.
MAJOR CONCLUSIONS
In our review, we argue that there is not one single oncogenic state, but rather a diverse set of oncogenic states. These are grounded on a physiological proliferative/wound healing program but distinguish themselves due to their large scale of proliferation, mutations, and transcriptional changes in key metabolic pathways, and the adaptations to widespread stress signals within tumors. We find evidence for the necessity of metabolic flexibility and stress responses in tumor progression and how these responses in turn shape oncogenic progression. Lastly, we find evidence for the notion that the metabolic adaptability of tumors frequently frustrates therapeutic interventions.
Topics: Cell Proliferation; Citric Acid Cycle; Energy Metabolism; Glucose; Glycolysis; Humans; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mutation; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasms; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Tumor Escape
PubMed: 31668988
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.08.021