Ammonia: A Diffusible Factor Released by Proliferating Cells That Induces Autophagy

作者:Marino Guillermo; Kroemer Guido*
来源:Science Signaling, 2010, 3(124): pe19.
DOI:10.1126/scisignal.3124pe19

摘要

During autophagy, portions of the cytoplasm are sequestered into autophagosomes and digested by lysosomal hydrolases. Massive autophagy can be induced in mammalian tissues in a coordinated fashion through nutrient deprivation, which has prompted the search of soluble metabolites that can stimulate autophagy. Ammonia, which is generated as a by-product of glutaminolysis, has been identified as a diffusible factor that stimulates autophagy. Intriguingly, cancer cells increase the rate glutaminolysis and the interstitial fluid of cancers contains higher-than-normal physiological concentrations of ammonia, suggesting a previously unknown pathway through which tumor cells can condition their microenvironment.

  • 出版日期2010-6-1