Myc regulates a transcriptional program that stimulates mitochondrial glutaminolysis and leads to glutamine addiction

Mammalian cells fuel their growth and proliferation through the catabolism of two main substrates: glucose and glutamine. Most of the remaining metabolites taken up by proliferating cells are not catabolized, but instead are used as building blocks during anabolic macromolecular synthesis. Investigations of phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and its downstream effector AKT have confirmed that these oncogenes play a direct role in stimulating glucose uptake and metabolism, rendering the transformed cell addicted to glucose for the maintenance of survival. In contrast, less is known about the regulation of glutamine uptake and metabolism. Here, we report that the transcriptional regulatory properties of the…

• CR
  Cancer Research Institute
• PD
  Pennsylvania Department of Health
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: K08 DK072565, HD26979
• NC
  National Cancer Institute
• AF
  Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute