Abstract
Control of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations is critical for cancer cell survival. We show that, in human lung cancer cells, acute increases in intracellular concentrations of ROS caused inhibition of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) through oxidation of Cys(358). This inhibition of PKM2 is required to divert glucose flux into the pentose phosphate pathway and thereby generate sufficient reducing potential for detoxification of ROS. Lung cancer cells in which endogenous PKM2 was replaced with the Cys(358) to Ser(358) oxidation-resistant mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and impaired tumor formation in a xenograft model. Besides promoting metabolic changes required for proliferation, the regulatory properties of PKM2 may confer an additional advantage to cancer cells by allowing them to withstand oxidative stress.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
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Amino Acid Substitution
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Animals
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Antioxidants / metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Survival
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Cysteine / chemistry
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Diamide / pharmacology
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Enzyme Activators / pharmacology
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Glucose / metabolism
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Glutathione / metabolism
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Humans
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Mice
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Mice, Nude
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Mutant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Mutant Proteins / chemistry
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Mutant Proteins / genetics
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Mutant Proteins / metabolism
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Neoplasm Transplantation
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Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
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Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
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Oxidation-Reduction
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Oxidative Stress
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Pentose Phosphate Pathway
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Protein Subunits
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Pyruvate Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Pyruvate Kinase / chemistry
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Pyruvate Kinase / genetics
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Pyruvate Kinase / metabolism
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Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
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Transplantation, Heterologous
Substances
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Antioxidants
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Enzyme Activators
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Mutant Proteins
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Protein Subunits
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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Diamide
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Pyruvate Kinase
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Glutathione
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Glucose
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Cysteine
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Acetylcysteine