Mitochondrial metabolism and ROS generation are essential for Kras-mediated tumorigenicity

Otto Warburg's theory on the origins of cancer postulates that tumor cells have defects in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and therefore rely on high levels of aerobic glycolysis as the major source of ATP to fuel cellular proliferation (the Warburg effect). This is in contrast to normal cells, which primarily utilize oxidative phosphorylation for growth and survival. Here we report that the major function of glucose metabolism for Kras-induced anchorage-independent growth, a hallmark of transformed cells, is to support the pentose phosphate pathway. The major function of glycolytic ATP is to support growth under hypoxic conditions. Glutamine conversion into the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate…

• LF
  LUNGevity Foundation
• RH
  Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago
• RH
  Respiratory Health Association
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: T32CA009560, P01HL071643, ES013995, T32CA070085, ES015024