Deficiency in glutamine but not glucose induces MYC-dependent apoptosis in human cells

作者:Yuneva Mariia; Zamboni Nicola; Oefner Peter; Sachidanandam Ravi; Lazebnik Yuri*
来源:The Journal of Cell Biology, 2007, 178(1): 93-105.
DOI:10.1083/jcb.200703099

摘要

The idea that conversion of glucose to ATP is an attractive target for cancer therapy has been supported in part by the observation that glucose deprivation induces apoptosis in rodent cells transduced with the proto-oncogene MYC, but not in the parental line. Here, we found that depletion of glucose killed normal human cells irrespective of induced MYC activity and by a mechanism different from apoptosis. However, depletion of glutamine, another major nutrient consumed by cancer cells, induced apoptosis depending on MYC activity. This apoptosis was preceded by depletion of the Krebs cycle intermediates, was prevented by two Krebs cycle substrates, but was unrelated to ATP synthesis or several other reported consequences of glutamine starvation. Our results suggest that the fate of normal human cells should be considered in evaluating nutrient deprivation as a strategy for cancer therapy, and that understanding how glutamine metabolism is linked to cell viability might provide new approaches for treatment of cancer.

  • 出版日期2007-7-2