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Showing papers on "Pyruvate kinase published in 2015"



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The structure, function, and regulation of pyruvate kinase are reviewed and how these properties enable regulation of PKM2 for cell proliferation and tumor growth are discussed.

337 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The discovery of aerobic glycolysis in the 1920s has provided new means and potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer, and can be regulated by many oncoproteins to promote tumor proliferation, migration, and metastasis with dependence or independence of gly colysis.
Abstract: Most tumor cells show different metabolic pathways than normal cells. Even under the conditions of sufficient oxygen, they produce energy by a high rate of glycolysis followed by lactic acid fermentation in the cytosol, which is known as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with one of the highest incidence and mortality rates in the world at present. However, the exact mechanisms underlying lung cancer development remain unclear. The three key enzymes of glycolysis are hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase. Lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the transfer of pyruvate to lactate. All four enzymes have been reported to be overexpressed in tumors, including lung cancer, and can be regulated by many oncoproteins to promote tumor proliferation, migration, and metastasis with dependence or independence of glycolysis. The discovery of aerobic glycolysis in the 1920s has provided new means and potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer.

237 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined how PKM2 deletion affects proliferation and metabolism in nontransformed, non-immortalized PKM-2-expressing primary cells and found that deletion in primary cells results in PKM1 expression and proliferation arrest.

213 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that the anti-apoptotic protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)14 promotes aerobic glycolysis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by maintaining low activity of the pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a key regulator of the Warburg effect.
Abstract: Most tumour cells use aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) to support anabolic growth and evade apoptosis. Intriguingly, the molecular mechanisms that link the Warburg effect with the suppression of apoptosis are not well understood. In this study, using loss-of-function studies in vitro and in vivo, we show that the anti-apoptotic protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)14 promotes aerobic glycolysis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by maintaining low activity of the pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a key regulator of the Warburg effect. Notably, PARP14 is highly expressed in HCC primary tumours and associated with poor patient prognosis. Mechanistically, PARP14 inhibits the pro-apoptotic kinase JNK1, which results in the activation of PKM2 through phosphorylation of Thr365. Moreover, targeting PARP14 enhances the sensitization of HCC cells to anti-HCC agents. Our findings indicate that the PARP14-JNK1-PKM2 regulatory axis is an important determinant for the Warburg effect in tumour cells and provide a mechanistic link between apoptosis and metabolism.

165 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The instrumental role of the non‐metabolic functions of PKM2 in tumorigenesis are highlighted, the potential to targetPKM2 for cancer treatment is evaluated and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of PKm2 expression, enzymatic activity, metabolic functions and subcellular location are explained.
Abstract: Reprogrammed metabolism is a key feature of cancer cells. The pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) isoform, which is commonly upregulated in many human cancers, has been recently shown to play a crucial role in metabolism reprogramming, gene transcription and cell cycle progression. In this Cell Science at a glance article and accompanying poster, we provide a brief overview of recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying the regulation of PKM2 expression, enzymatic activity, metabolic functions and subcellular location. We highlight the instrumental role of the non-metabolic functions of PKM2 in tumorigenesis and evaluate the potential to target PKM2 for cancer treatment.

149 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Insight is provided into the mechanism of regulating gene expression, responding to cellular metabolism via chromatin modifications, using a novel protein complex named SESAME, which contains serine metabolic enzymes, SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) synthetases, and an acetyl-CoA synthetase.

131 citations


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: The physiology of ROS is briefly discussed but the mechanisms cells use to preserve redox homeostasis upon oxidative stress are focused on, with particular emphasis on glycolysis.
Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an intricate part of normal cellular physiology. In excess, however, ROS can damage all three major classes of macromolecules and compromise cell viability. We briefly discuss the physiology of ROS but focus on the mechanisms cells use to preserve redox homeostasis upon oxidative stress, with particular emphasis on glycolysis. ROS inhibits multiple glycolytic enzymes, including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase M2, and phosphofructokinase-1. Consistently, glycolytic inhibition promotes flux into the oxidative arm of the pentose phosphate pathway to generate NADPH. NADPH is critically important, as it provides the reducing power that fuels the protein-based antioxidant systems and recycles oxidized glutathione. The unique ability of pyruvate kinase M2 inhibition to promote serine synthesis in the context of oxidative stress is also discussed.

130 citations


01 Aug 2015
TL;DR: The structure, function, and regulation of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) are reviewed in this paper, where the authors discuss how these properties enable regulation of PKM2 for cell proliferation and tumor growth.
Abstract: Pyruvate kinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate and ADP to pyruvate and ATP in glycolysis and plays a role in regulating cell metabolism. There are four mammalian pyruvate kinase isoforms with unique tissue expression patterns and regulatory properties. The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) supports anabolic metabolism and is expressed both in cancer and normal tissue. The enzymatic activity of PKM2 is allosterically regulated by both intracellular signaling pathways and metabolites; PKM2 thus integrates signaling and metabolic inputs to modulate glucose metabolism according to the needs of the cell. Recent advances have increased our understanding of metabolic regulation by pyruvate kinase, raised new questions, and suggested the possibility of non-canonical PKM2 functions to regulate gene expression and cell cycle progression via protein-protein interactions and protein kinase activity. Here we review the structure, function, and regulation of pyruvate kinase and discuss how these properties enable regulation of PKM2 for cell proliferation and tumor growth.

110 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: MR affects HCC development by modulating the miR‐338‐3p/pyruvate kinase, liver and red blood cells axis with an ability to suppress the Warburg effect.

78 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is proposed that pyruvate kinase isoform switching represents a novel feature of the fetal gene program in the failing heart that is associated with glycolysis and activated in patients with heart failure.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The interplay between glycolysis and oncogenic events will be the focus of this review.
Abstract: Enhanced glycolysis in cancer, called the Warburg effect, is a well-known feature of cancer metabolism. Recent advances revealed that the Warburg effect is coupled to many other cancer properties, including adaptation to hypoxia and low nutrients, immortalisation, resistance to oxidative stress and apoptotic stimuli, and elevated biomass synthesis. These linkages are mediated by various oncogenic molecules and signals, such as c-Myc, p53, and the insulin/Ras pathway. Furthermore, several regulators of glycolysis have been recently identified as oncogene candidates, including the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway, sirtuins, adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase, glycolytic pyruvate kinase M2, phosphoglycerate mutase, and oncometabolites. The interplay between glycolysis and oncogenic events will be the focus of this review.

Journal ArticleDOI
23 Jul 2015-Oncogene
TL;DR: The data reveal a new function for TRIM35, which is to regulate the Warburg effect and tumorigenicity through interaction with PKM2 in HCC.
Abstract: Tripartite motif-containing protein 35 (TRIM35) is a member of RBCC family, which has a highly conserved order consisting of a RING domain followed by one or two B-Box domains and then a coiled-coil domain. We previously identified TRIM35 as a novel tumor suppressor in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanism that TRIM35 uses to suppress tumorigenicity is largely unknown. Pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) has been demonstrated to have a central role in metabolic reprogramming during cancer progression. Phosphorylation of PKM2 tyrosine residue 105 (Y105) regulates PKM2 to provide a metabolic advantage to tumor cells, thereby promoting tumor growth. In the present work, mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated an interaction between TRIM35 and PKM2. Co-IP experiments confirmed that TRIM35 interacts with PKM2 and that the coiled-coil domain is required for such an interaction. Furthermore, the coiled-coil domain mediates decreases in the Warburg effect and in the cell proliferation of HCC cells. In addition, TRIM35 suppresses the tumorigenicity of HCC cells through the blockade of PKM2 Y105 phosphorylation. Collectively, our data reveal a new function for TRIM35, which is to regulate the Warburg effect and tumorigenicity through interaction with PKM2 in HCC.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The NF-κB-PKM2-STAT3 axis is revealed as a novel mechanism for the regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β production and the importance of PKM2 as a key inflammatory mediator in inflammatory microenvironment is suggested.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of a maize line genetically engineered for enhanced seed carotenoid biosynthesis revealed how the sugar metabolism adapted to meet the additional precursor supply.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess whether endosperm-specific carotenoid biosynthesis influenced core metabolic processes in maize embryo and endosperm and how global seed metabolism adapted to this expanded biosynthetic capacity. Although enhancement of carotenoid biosynthesis was targeted to the endosperm of maize kernels, a concurrent up-regulation of sterol and fatty acid biosynthesis in the embryo was measured. Targeted terpenoid analysis, and non-targeted metabolomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic profiling revealed changes especially in carbohydrate metabolism in the transgenic line. In-depth analysis of the data, including changes of metabolite pools and increased enzyme and transcript concentrations, gave a first insight into the metabolic variation precipitated by the higher up-stream metabolite demand by the extended biosynthesis capacities for terpenoids and fatty acids. An integrative model is put forward to explain the metabolic regulation for the increased provision of terpenoid and fatty acid precursors, particularly glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and pyruvate or acetyl-CoA from imported fructose and glucose. The model was supported by higher activities of fructokinase, glucose 6-phosphate isomerase, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase indicating a higher flux through the glycolytic pathway. Although pyruvate and acetyl-CoA utilization was higher in the engineered line, pyruvate kinase activity was lower. A sufficient provision of both metabolites may be supported by a by-pass in a reaction sequence involving phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, malate dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings suggest that drug-induced oxidative stress differentially affects metabolism and metabolite signaling in normal and G6PD-deficient cells, and provides an insight into the pathophysiology of acute hemolytic anemia in G6 PD- deficient patients.
Abstract: Aims: Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is essential for maintenance of nicotinamide dinucleotide hydrogen phosphate (NADPH) levels and redox homeostasis. A number of drugs, such as antimalarial drugs, act to induce reactive oxygen species and hemolytic crisis in G6PD-deficient patients. We used diamide (DIA) to mimic drug-induced oxidative stress and studied how these drugs affect cellular metabolism using a metabolomic approach. Results: There are a few differences in metabolome between red blood cells (RBCs) from normal and G6PD-deficient individuals. DIA causes modest changes in normal RBC metabolism. In contrast, there are significant changes in various biochemical pathways, namely glutathione (GSH) metabolism, purine metabolism, and glycolysis, in G6PD-deficient cells. GSH depletion is concomitant with a shift in energy metabolism. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) accumulation activates AMP protein kinase (AMPK) and increases entry of glucose into glycoly...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Investigation of the effects of prolonged l-cysteine treatment on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from mouse insulinoma 6 (MIN6) cells and from mouse pancreatic islets found that the treatment reversibly inhibited glucose-induced ATP production and resulting GSIS without affecting proinsulin and insulin synthesis.
Abstract: Increase in the concentration of plasma l-cysteine is closely associated with defective insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells, which results in type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we investigated the effects of prolonged l-cysteine treatment on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from mouse insulinoma 6 (MIN6) cells and from mouse pancreatic islets, and found that the treatment reversibly inhibited glucose-induced ATP production and resulting GSIS without affecting proinsulin and insulin synthesis. Comprehensive metabolic analyses using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry showed that prolonged l-cysteine treatment decreased the levels of pyruvate and its downstream metabolites. In addition, methyl pyruvate, a membrane-permeable form of pyruvate, rescued l-cysteine–induced inhibition of GSIS. Based on these results, we found that both in vitro and in MIN6 cells, l-cysteine specifically inhibited the activity of pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 (PKM2), an isoform of pyruvate kinases that catalyze the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate. l-cysteine also induced PKM2 subunit dissociation (tetramers to dimers/monomers) in cells, which resulted in impaired glucose-induced ATP production for GSIS. DASA-10 (NCGC00181061, a substituted N,N′-diarylsulfonamide), a specific activator for PKM2, restored the tetramer formation and the activity of PKM2, glucose-induced ATP production, and biphasic insulin secretion in l-cysteine–treated cells. Collectively, our results demonstrate that impaired insulin secretion due to exposure to l-cysteine resulted from its direct binding and inactivation of PKM2 and suggest that PKM2 is a potential therapeutic target for T2D.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mechanism for dynamic regulation of PKM2 by post-translational modifications and a patient-derived mutation is revealed and provides a structural basis for further investigation of other modifications and mutations ofPKM2 yet to be discovered.
Abstract: Pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) converts phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to pyruvate and plays an important role in cancer metabolism. Here, we show that post-translational modifications and a patient-derived mutation regulate pyruvate kinase activity of PKM2 through modulating the conformation of the PKM2 tetramer. We determined crystal structures of human PKM2 mutants and proposed a “seesaw” model to illustrate conformational changes between an inactive T-state and an active R-state tetramers of PKM2. Biochemical and structural analyses demonstrate that PKM2Y105E (phosphorylation mimic of Y105) decreases pyruvate kinase activity by inhibiting FBP (fructose 1,6-bisphosphate)-induced R-state formation, and PKM2K305Q (acetylation mimic of K305) abolishes the activity by hindering tetramer formation. K422R, a patient-derived mutation of PKM2, favors a stable, inactive T-state tetramer because of strong intermolecular interactions. Our study reveals the mechanism for dynamic regulation of PKM2 by post-translational modifications and a patient-derived mutation and provides a structural basis for further investigation of other modifications and mutations of PKM2 yet to be discovered.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Glycolysis is increased and the Krebs cycle is decreased in the brain of a prenatal stress animal model of depression, and differences in markers of glucose metabolism between control animals and those subjected to prenatal stress were not observed under basal conditions but in rats subjected to acute stress and glucose load in adulthood.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of carbon-unit supply for the production of acetyl-CoA, a direct precursor of fatty acid biosynthesis and the primary building block of the growing acyl chains for the purpose of triacylglycerol (TAG) production in photosynthetic microalgae under stressful conditions, is discussed.
Abstract: Photosynthetic microalgae are currently the focus of basic and applied research due to an ever-growing interest in renewable energy resources. This review discusses the role of carbon-unit supply for the production of acetyl-CoA, a direct precursor of fatty acid biosynthesis and the primary building block of the growing acyl chains for the purpose of triacylglycerol (TAG) production in photosynthetic microalgae under stressful conditions. It underscores the importance of intraplastidic acetyl-CoA generation for storage lipid accumulation. The main focus is placed on two enzymatic steps linking the central carbon metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, namely the reactions catalyzed by the plastidic isoform of pyruvate kinase and the chloroplastic pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Alternative routes for plastidic acetyl-CoA synthesis are also reviewed. A separate section is devoted to recent advances in functional genomics studies related to fatty acid and TAG biosynthesis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that knockdown of PKM2 expression enhances the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines and xenografts as well as may aid in the design of new therapies for the treatment ofNSCLC.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer that provides a direct noninvasive measure of PKM2 expression in preclinical models of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and in vivo, orthotopic U87 and GBM39 patient-derived tumors were clearly delineated from the surrounding normal brain tissue by PET imaging, corresponding to exclusive tumor-associated PKM 2 expression.
Abstract: Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet increased biosynthetic demands, commensurate with elevated rates of replication. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step in tumor glycolysis, controlling the balance between energy production and the synthesis of metabolic precursors. We report here the synthesis and evaluation of a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, [(11)C]DASA-23, that provides a direct noninvasive measure of PKM2 expression in preclinical models of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In vivo, orthotopic U87 and GBM39 patient-derived tumors were clearly delineated from the surrounding normal brain tissue by PET imaging, corresponding to exclusive tumor-associated PKM2 expression. In addition, systemic treatment of mice with the PKM2 activator TEPP-46 resulted in complete abrogation of the PET signal in intracranial GBM39 tumors. Together, these data provide the basis for the clinical evaluation of imaging agents that target this important gatekeeper of tumor glycolysis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comet assay results demonstrated an increase in DNA damage that was directly proportional to increasing hypoxic concentrations, which suggests that the Nile tilapia cope better with long-term hypoxic conditions, possibly as an adaptive response.
Abstract: The strictly aquatic breathing Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is an extremely hypoxia-tolerant fish. To augment our understanding of the effects of hypoxia on anaerobic glycolysis in the Nile tilapia, we studied the effect of short-term for 1 day (trial 1) and long-term for 30 days (trial 2) hypoxia on a selected glycolytic enzymes activity and mRNA expression in liver and white muscle. The hypoxic oxygen concentrations used in the two trials were 2, 1, and 0.5 mg O2 L−1 for comparison with a control normoxic group 8 mg O2 L−1. The activity of phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in liver and white muscle except liver LDH decreased in trial 1 and increased in trial 2. Assessments of mRNA levels in trial 1 revealed that PFK was downregulated and LDH was upregulated in liver and white muscle, while PK fluctuated between upregulation in liver and downregulation in white muscle. Meanwhile, PK and LDH were upregulated while PFK was similar to control values in b...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of natural compounds in regulating tumor glycolysis is highlighted, with a main focus on the gly colysis under hypoxic tumor microenvironment.
Abstract: In the early twentieth century, Otto Heinrich Warburg described an elevated rate of glycolysis occurring in cancer cells, even in the presence of atmospheric oxygen (the Warburg effect). Recently it became a therapeutically interesting strategy and is considered as an emerging hallmark of cancer. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is one of the key transcription factors that play major roles in tumor glycolysis and could directly trigger Warburg effect. Thus, how to inhibit HIF-1-depended Warburg effect to assist the cancer therapy is becoming a hot issue in cancer research. In fact, HIF-1 upregulates the glucose transporters (GLUT) and induces the expression of glycolytic enzymes, such as hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase. So small molecules of natural origin used as GLUT, hexokinase, or pyruvate kinase isoform M2 inhibitors could represent a major challenge in the field of cancer treatment. These compounds aim to suppress tumor hypoxia induced glycolysis process to suppress the cell energy metabolism or enhance the susceptibility of tumor cells to radio- and chemotherapy. In this review, we highlight the role of natural compounds in regulating tumor glycolysis, with a main focus on the glycolysis under hypoxic tumor microenvironment.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Altered and mutagenesis studies are consistent with the 527-533 loop playing a key role in allosteric function, and the two phosphates of Fru-1,6-BP docking to Arg501/Trp494 and the 444-449 loop, respectively, which indicates specificity for the fructose sugar conformation.
Abstract: In the study of allosteric proteins, understanding which effector–protein interactions contribute to allosteric activation is important both for designing allosteric drugs and for understanding allosteric mechanisms. The antihyperglycemic target, human liver pyruvate kinase (hL-PYK), binds its allosteric activator, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-BP), such that the 1′-phosphate interacts with side chains of Arg501 and Trp494 and the 6′-phosphate interacts with Thr444, Thr446, Ser449 (i.e., the 444–449 loop), and Ser531. Additionally, backbone atoms from the 527–533 loop interact with a sugar ring hydroxyl and the two effector phosphate moieties. An effector analogue series indicates that only one phosphate on the sugar is required for activation. However, singly phosphorylated sugars, including Fru-1-P and Fru-6-P, bind with a Kix in the range of 0.07–1 mM. The second phosphate of Fru-1,6-BP causes tight effector binding, because this native effector has a Kix of 0.061 μM. Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that tumor cells switch their PKM isoform from PKM1 to PKM2 during tumor development only in limited cases, and that brain-specific microRNA (miR)-124 and muscle-specific miR-133b regulated this machinery by controlling PKM expression through targeting polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTB1), which is a splicer of the PKM gene.
Abstract: The Warburg effect is a well-known feature of cancer cells. However, its' functional significance hasn't been elucidated yet. Pyruvate kinase muscle (PKM), which is a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme, has 2 isoforms, PKM1 and PKM2. It has been reported that PKM2 is a tumor-specific isoform and promotes the Warburg effect. Also, it has been thought that tumor cells switch their PKM isoform from PKM1 to PKM2 during tumor development. Here, we showed that this switching machinery was induced only in limited cases, based on PKM expression in normal tissues, and that brain-specific microRNA (miR)-124 and muscle-specific miR-133b regulated this machinery by controlling PKM expression through targeting polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTB1), which is a splicer of the PKM gene. Also, we confirmed that the PKM2/PKM1 ratio was further elevated in other PKM2-dominant organs such as colon through the down-regulation of these PTB1-associated microRNAs during tumor development.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: 7-Azaindole analog 32 was identified as the most potent PKM2 activator and exhibited selective anti-proliferation activity on cancer cell lines HCT116, Hela and H1299 compared with non-tumor cell line BEAS-2B.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: H2S improves glucose utilization and inhibits cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and some intermediates of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, including lactic acid, cyclohexylammonium, oxaloacetic acid, succinate, L-dimalate, sodium citrate, cis-aconitic acid, ketoglutarate and DL-isocitric acid trisodium also showed anti-hypertrophic effects in carduomyocytes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that high-dose selenite treatment exacerbates hepatic insulin resistance in mouse model of type 2 diabetes, at least in part through oxidative stress-mediated JNK pathway, providing new mechanistic insights into the pro-diabetic effect of selenites in type 2 diabetics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that IGF1 can regulate glycolysis rate, stimulate PKM2 Ser/Thr phosphorylation and decrease cellular pyruvate kinase activity, suggesting a role of IGFIR/Akt axis in regulating gly colysis by Ser/ Thr PKM 2 phosphorylated in cancer cells.
Abstract: Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) acts at the crossroad of growth and metabolism pathways in cells. PKM2 regulation by growth factors can redirect glycolytic intermediates into key biosynthetic pathway. Here we show that IGF1 can regulate glycolysis rate, stimulate PKM2 Ser/Thr phosphorylation and decrease cellular pyruvate kinase activity. Upon IGF1 treatment we found an increase of the dimeric form of PKM2 and the enrichment of PKM2 in the nucleus. This effect was associated to a reduction of pyruvate kinase enzymatic activity and was reversed using metformin, which decreases Akt phosphorylation. IGF1 induced an increased nuclear localization of PKM2 and STAT3, which correlated with an increased HIF1α, HK2, and GLUT1 expression and glucose entrapment. Metformin inhibited HK2, GLUT1, HIF-1α expression and glucose consumption. These findings suggest a role of IGFIR/Akt axis in regulating glycolysis by Ser/Thr PKM2 phosphorylation in cancer cells.