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PMID: 21301794 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Glutamine: pleiotropic roles in tumor growth and stress resistance.

Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) ·Vol. 89 ·No. 3 ·2011-03-00 ·Pages 229-36

Shanware NP, Mullen AR, DeBerardinis RJ, Abraham RT

Abstract

Tumors and tumor cell lines rapidly consume the amino acid glutamine (Gln) and use it to supply metabolic pathways that support cell growth and proliferation. Much of the research regarding the relationship between glutamine metabolism and cancer is based on the premise that this abundant nutrient represents an important driver of tumor cell anabolism. However, Gln's influence in cell biology and cancer extends far beyond its use as a carbon and nitrogen source for the structural components of dividing cells. Gln is truly a multipurpose nutrient, feeding many additional pathways that boost the ability of cells to communicate with each other and to cope with stress by oncogenic signaling and by the tumor microenvironment. A number of recent reports have highlighted these "non-anabolic" functions of Gln metabolism in regulating cell survival, oxidative stress resistance, signal transduction, and autophagy. Here, we review some of these findings and discuss their relevance to tumor biology and the potential for cancer therapy.

MeSH Terms
Autophagy/physiology Glutamine/metabolism Models, Biological Neoplasms/metabolism,prevention & control Oxidative Stress/physiology
Chemicals
Glutamine
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Shanware Naval P
Oncology Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pearl River, NY 10965, USA.
Mullen Andrew R
DeBerardinis Ralph J
Abraham Robert T
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany)
Abbr.
J Mol Med (Berl)
ISSN
1432-1440
DOI
10.1007/s00109-011-0731-9
Published
2011-03-00
Epub
2011-00-08
Pages
229-36
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
9504370
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s00109-011-0731-9 View journal details
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