doi: 10.5732/cjc.011.10446

Nonmetabolic functions of pyruvate kinase isoform M2 in controlling cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis

Zhimin Lu

Brain Tumor Center and Department of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Ho

[Abstract] Pyruvate kinase catalyzes the rate-limiting final step of glycolysis, generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and pyruvate. The M2 tumor-specific isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) promotes glucose uptake and lactate production in the presence of oxygen, known as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. As recently reported in Nature, PKM2, besides its metabolic function, has a nonmetabolic function in the direct control of cell cycle progression by activating ?茁-catenin and inducing expression of the ?茁-catenin downstream gene CCND1(encoding for cyclin D1). This nonmetabolic function of PKM2 is essential for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation-induced tumorigenesis.

Chinese Journal of Cancer 2012, Volume: 31, Issue 1, Page: 5-7

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Zhimin Lu. Nonmetabolic functions of pyruvate kinase isoform M2 in controlling cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis. Chin J Cancer. 2012, 31(1):5-7. doi:10.5732/cjc.011.10446


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