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Controlling cancer cells’ gluttony for glutamine

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys found that pancreatic cancer cells rely on a specific nutrient, glutamine, to fuel their unchecked growth. The study identified two enzymes, aPKC zeta and iota, that play a regulatory role in the process of macropinocytosis, allowing cancer cells to scavenge alternative resources.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 5, 2024

Study explores novel therapeutic treatment for glioblastoma

A study by Ohio State University researchers found that combining pimozide with CB-839 can effectively suppress glioblastoma growth by blocking lipid production and starvation of tumor cells. This innovative combination may also hold promise for treating other cancers relying on glutamine and lipids.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 7, 2024

How breast cancer goes hungry

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a strategy to kill breast cancer cells and shrink tumors by depriving them of two vital nutrients: glutamine and its backup supply, alpha-ketoglutarate. This approach was successful in lab experiments and effective in treating tumors in mice.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Metabolism·DateAug 28, 2024

Cause of rare genetic condition discovered

Researchers have identified a rare genetic condition, Glutamine Synthetase Stabilization Disorder, which causes seizures and delayed development. The study found that genetic variants increase the stability of an enzyme producing glutamine, disrupting brain development.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateApr 14, 2024

Inhibiting glutamine metabolism impacts tumor cells or the microenvironment?

Glutamine metabolism plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth and survival, with its inhibition shown to block cancer cell growth in vivo and in vitro. A recent editorial paper suggests that glutamine dysregulation may also impact the tumor microenvironment, potentially leading to increased oxidative stress and cancer cell death.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 16, 2023

Zinc could treat a rare genetic disorder

Researchers discovered that zinc can restore the functioning of proteins affected by mutations in the GNAO1 gene, leading to severe mental and motor disabilities. By reactivating hydrolysis, zinc enables neurons to communicate correctly with their environment.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience Advances·TypeNews article·DateOct 10, 2022

Prostate cancer uses metabolic switch to thrive after hormone therapy

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center identified a key reason hormone therapies fail and proposed a new treatment strategy directly targeting the cancer's fuel source, glutamine. By inhibiting glutamine utilization, tumor growth is successfully inhibited in studies using prostate cancer cell lines and animal models.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 22, 2021

Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake

Researchers have identified a small molecule drug candidate that targets the uptake of glutamine in cancer cells, slowing the growth of melanoma and other cancers. The study, published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, offers an exciting new therapeutic approach for treating tumors addicted to glutamine.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalMolecular Cancer Therapeutics·DateMar 19, 2021

Chlamydia: Greedy for glutamine

Chlamydia bacteria reprogram human host cell metabolism to increase glutamine import, essential for proliferation. The discovery could lead to new treatments for chronic infections and severe diseases like cervical and ovarian cancer.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Microbiology·DateAug 3, 2020

Breaking up amino acids with radiation

Researchers break down amino acid glutamine when bombarded with different doses of electrons. This process has implications for understanding the effect of ionising radiation on human cells and improving cancer radiotherapy.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 5, 2020

Cancer-fighting combination targets glioblastoma

Researchers paired a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet with a tumor-inhibiting antibiotic to destroy cancer stem cells and mesenchymal cells in glioblastoma, a fast-moving brain cancer. The combination killed tumor cells while reversing disease symptoms and improving mouse survival.

SourceBoston College·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMay 30, 2019

Are tumor cells glutamine addicts?

Researchers found that tumor cells entering a reversible state of proliferation arrest when glutamine is depleted, rather than dying. c-MYC levels are down-regulated upon glutamine deprivation, suggesting it couples transcription to nucleotide availability.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateApr 13, 2017

Does sugar feed cancer?

Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute have discovered that restricting glutamine availability can halt tumor growth by blocking glucose utilization. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new drugs targeting glutamine utilization or MondoA/ TXNIP.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2009

Repeating genes

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute have proposed a mechanism that explains the precision of trinucleotide repeat diseases like Huntington's. They suggest that the genes carrying the disease code accumulate more DNA repeats over time until a critical threshold is crossed.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 22, 2007