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Essays in Biochemistry Oct 2020Metabolism consists of a series of reactions that occur within cells of living organisms to sustain life. The process of metabolism involves many interconnected cellular... (Review)
Review
Metabolism consists of a series of reactions that occur within cells of living organisms to sustain life. The process of metabolism involves many interconnected cellular pathways to ultimately provide cells with the energy required to carry out their function. The importance and the evolutionary advantage of these pathways can be seen as many remain unchanged by animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. In eukaryotes, the metabolic pathways occur within the cytosol and mitochondria of cells with the utilisation of glucose or fatty acids providing the majority of cellular energy in animals. Metabolism is organised into distinct metabolic pathways to either maximise the capture of energy or minimise its use. Metabolism can be split into a series of chemical reactions that comprise both the synthesis and degradation of complex macromolecules known as anabolism or catabolism, respectively. The basic principles of energy consumption and production are discussed, alongside the biochemical pathways that make up fundamental metabolic processes for life.
Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Amino Acids; Animals; Bacteria; Citric Acid Cycle; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Gluconeogenesis; Glycogen; Glycolysis; Humans; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mitochondria; Neoplasms; Plants
PubMed: 32830223
DOI: 10.1042/EBC20190041 -
Trends in Biochemical Sciences Aug 2014The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which branches from glycolysis at the first committed step of glucose metabolism, is required for the synthesis of ribonucleotides... (Review)
Review
The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which branches from glycolysis at the first committed step of glucose metabolism, is required for the synthesis of ribonucleotides and is a major source of NADPH. NADPH is required for and consumed during fatty acid synthesis and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, the PPP plays a pivotal role in helping glycolytic cancer cells to meet their anabolic demands and combat oxidative stress. Recently, several neoplastic lesions were shown to have evolved to facilitate the flux of glucose into the PPP. This review summarizes the fundamental functions of the PPP, its regulation in cancer cells, and its importance in cancer cell metabolism and survival.
Topics: Animals; Glycolysis; Humans; Neoplasms; Oxidative Stress; Pentose Phosphate Pathway
PubMed: 25037503
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2014.06.005 -
Bioscience Reports Dec 2016Information about normal hepatic glucose metabolism may help to understand pathogenic mechanisms underlying obesity and diabetes mellitus. In addition, liver glucose... (Review)
Review
Information about normal hepatic glucose metabolism may help to understand pathogenic mechanisms underlying obesity and diabetes mellitus. In addition, liver glucose metabolism is involved in glycosylation reactions and connected with fatty acid metabolism. The liver receives dietary carbohydrates directly from the intestine via the portal vein. Glucokinase phosphorylates glucose to glucose 6-phosphate inside the hepatocyte, ensuring that an adequate flow of glucose enters the cell to be metabolized. Glucose 6-phosphate may proceed to several metabolic pathways. During the post-prandial period, most glucose 6-phosphate is used to synthesize glycogen via the formation of glucose 1-phosphate and UDP-glucose. Minor amounts of UDP-glucose are used to form UDP-glucuronate and UDP-galactose, which are donors of monosaccharide units used in glycosylation. A second pathway of glucose 6-phosphate metabolism is the formation of fructose 6-phosphate, which may either start the hexosamine pathway to produce UDP-N-acetylglucosamine or follow the glycolytic pathway to generate pyruvate and then acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA may enter the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to be oxidized or may be exported to the cytosol to synthesize fatty acids, when excess glucose is present within the hepatocyte. Finally, glucose 6-phosphate may produce NADPH and ribose 5-phosphate through the pentose phosphate pathway. Glucose metabolism supplies intermediates for glycosylation, a post-translational modification of proteins and lipids that modulates their activity. Congenital deficiency of phosphoglucomutase (PGM)-1 and PGM-3 is associated with impaired glycosylation. In addition to metabolize carbohydrates, the liver produces glucose to be used by other tissues, from glycogen breakdown or from de novo synthesis using primarily lactate and alanine (gluconeogenesis).
Topics: Glucose; Glycosylation; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 27707936
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20160385 -
Cell Stem Cell Jul 2022Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) adapt their metabolism to maintenance and proliferation; however, the mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrated...
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) adapt their metabolism to maintenance and proliferation; however, the mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrated that homeostatic HSCs exhibited high amino acid (AA) catabolism to reduce cellular AA levels, which activated the GCN2-eIF2α axis, a protein synthesis inhibitory checkpoint to restrain protein synthesis for maintenance. Furthermore, upon proliferation conditions, HSCs enhanced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for higher energy production but decreased AA catabolism to accumulate cellular AAs, which inactivated the GCN2-eIF2α axis to increase protein synthesis and coupled with proteotoxic stress. Importantly, GCN2 deletion impaired HSC function in repopulation and regeneration. Mechanistically, GCN2 maintained proteostasis and inhibited Src-mediated AKT activation to repress mitochondrial OXPHOS in HSCs. Moreover, the glycolytic metabolite, NAD precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR), accelerated AA catabolism to activate GCN2 and sustain the long-term function of HSCs. Overall, our study uncovered direct links between metabolic alterations and translation control in HSCs during homeostasis and proliferation.
Topics: Amino Acids; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Phosphorylation; Proteostasis
PubMed: 35803229
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.06.004 -
Journal of Peptide Science : An... Jan 2016Today, Fmoc SPPS is the method of choice for peptide synthesis. Very-high-quality Fmoc building blocks are available at low cost because of the economies of scale... (Review)
Review
Today, Fmoc SPPS is the method of choice for peptide synthesis. Very-high-quality Fmoc building blocks are available at low cost because of the economies of scale arising from current multiton production of therapeutic peptides by Fmoc SPPS. Many modified derivatives are commercially available as Fmoc building blocks, making synthetic access to a broad range of peptide derivatives straightforward. The number of synthetic peptides entering clinical trials has grown continuously over the last decade, and recent advances in the Fmoc SPPS technology are a response to the growing demand from medicinal chemistry and pharmacology. Improvements are being continually reported for peptide quality, synthesis time and novel synthetic targets. Topical peptide research has contributed to a continuous improvement and expansion of Fmoc SPPS applications.
Topics: Amino Acids; Aspartic Acid; Cell Line; Epithelial Cells; Fluorenes; Glycosylation; Humans; Methylation; Peptides; Phosphorylation; Protein Prenylation; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques
PubMed: 26785684
DOI: 10.1002/psc.2836 -
Current Opinion in Cell Biology Apr 2015Acetyl-CoA represents a key node in metabolism due to its intersection with many metabolic pathways and transformations. Emerging evidence reveals that cells monitor the... (Review)
Review
Acetyl-CoA represents a key node in metabolism due to its intersection with many metabolic pathways and transformations. Emerging evidence reveals that cells monitor the levels of acetyl-CoA as a key indicator of their metabolic state, through distinctive protein acetylation modifications dependent on this metabolite. We offer the following conceptual model for understanding the role of this sentinel metabolite in metabolic regulation. High nucleocytosolic acetyl-CoA amounts are a signature of a 'growth' or 'fed' state and promote its utilization for lipid synthesis and histone acetylation. In contrast, under 'survival' or 'fasted' states, acetyl-CoA is preferentially directed into the mitochondria to promote mitochondrial-dependent activities such as the synthesis of ATP and ketone bodies. Fluctuations in acetyl-CoA within these subcellular compartments enable the substrate-level regulation of acetylation modifications, but also necessitate the function of sirtuin deacetylases to catalyze removal of spontaneous modifications that might be unintended. Thus, understanding the sources, fates, and consequences of acetyl-CoA as a carrier of two-carbon units has started to reveal its underappreciated but profound influence on the regulation of numerous life processes.
Topics: Acetyl Coenzyme A; Acetylation; Cell Nucleus; Cytoplasm; Histones; Lipid Metabolism; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mitochondria; Protein Processing, Post-Translational
PubMed: 25703630
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2015.02.003 -
The Journal of Biological Chemistry May 2018Lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial metabolism and is synthesized using intermediates from mitochondrial fatty-acid synthesis type II,... (Review)
Review
Lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial metabolism and is synthesized using intermediates from mitochondrial fatty-acid synthesis type II, -adenosylmethionine and iron-sulfur clusters. This cofactor is required for catalysis by multiple mitochondrial 2-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes, including pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase. Lipoic acid also plays a critical role in stabilizing and regulating these multienzyme complexes. Many of these dehydrogenases are regulated by reactive oxygen species, mediated through the disulfide bond of the prosthetic lipoyl moiety. Collectively, its functions explain why lipoic acid is required for cell growth, mitochondrial activity, and coordination of fuel metabolism.
Topics: Animals; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Mitochondria; Oxidation-Reduction; Thioctic Acid
PubMed: 29191830
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.TM117.000259 -
Cancer Letters Oct 2018Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming such as enhanced aerobic glycolysis, mutations in the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, and upregulation of de novo lipid... (Review)
Review
Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming such as enhanced aerobic glycolysis, mutations in the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, and upregulation of de novo lipid synthesis and glutaminolysis. These alterations are pivotal to the development and maintenance of the malignant phenotype of cancer cells in unfavorable tumor microenvironment or metastatic sites. Although mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is a primary bioenergetic source, it has not been generally recognized as part of the metabolic landscape of cancer. The last few years, however, have seen a dramatic change in the view of cancer relevance of the FAO pathway. Many recent studies have provided significant evidence to support a "lipolytic phenotype" of cancer. FAO, like other well-defined metabolic pathways involved in cancer, is dysregulated in diverse human malignancies. Cancer cells rely on FAO for proliferation, survival, stemness, drug resistance, and metastatic progression. FAO is also reprogrammed in cancer-associated immune and other host cells, which may contribute to immune suppression and tumor-promoting microenvironment. This article reviews and puts into context our current understanding of multi-faceted roles of FAO in oncogenesis as well as anti-cancer therapeutic opportunities posed by the FAO pathway.
Topics: Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Lipolysis; Mitochondria; Neoplasms; Oxidation-Reduction; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 30102953
DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.08.006 -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2021Metabolism is a fundamental process for all cellular functions. For decades, there has been growing evidence of a relationship between metabolism and malignant cell...
Metabolism is a fundamental process for all cellular functions. For decades, there has been growing evidence of a relationship between metabolism and malignant cell proliferation. Unlike normal differentiated cells, cancer cells have reprogrammed metabolism in order to fulfill their energy requirements. These cells display crucial modifications in many metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and glutaminolysis, which include the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the electron transport chain (ETC), and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) [1]. Since the discovery of the Warburg effect, it has been shown that the metabolism of cancer cells plays a critical role in cancer survival and growth. More recent research suggests that the involvement of glutamine in cancer metabolism is more significant than previously thought. Glutamine, a nonessential amino acid with both amine and amide functional groups, is the most abundant amino acid circulating in the bloodstream [2]. This chapter discusses the characteristic features of glutamine metabolism in cancers and the therapeutic options to target glutamine metabolism for cancer treatment.
Topics: Citric Acid Cycle; Energy Metabolism; Glutamine; Glycolysis; Humans; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Neoplasms
PubMed: 34014532
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65768-0_2 -
Experimental & Molecular Medicine Apr 2023Proliferating cancer cells rely largely on glutamine for survival and proliferation. Glutamine serves as a carbon source for the synthesis of lipids and metabolites via... (Review)
Review
Proliferating cancer cells rely largely on glutamine for survival and proliferation. Glutamine serves as a carbon source for the synthesis of lipids and metabolites via the TCA cycle, as well as a source of nitrogen for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. To date, many studies have explored the role of glutamine metabolism in cancer, thereby providing a scientific rationale for targeting glutamine metabolism for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the mechanism(s) involved at each step of glutamine metabolism, from glutamine transporters to redox homeostasis, and highlight areas that can be exploited for clinical cancer treatment. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms underlying cancer cell resistance to agents that target glutamine metabolism, as well as strategies for overcoming these mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the effects of glutamine blockade on the tumor microenvironment and explore strategies to maximize the utility of glutamine blockers as a cancer treatment.
Topics: Humans; Glutamine; Neoplasms; Amino Acids; Citric Acid Cycle; Oxidation-Reduction; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37009798
DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00971-9