Metabolic Reprogramming for Producing Energy and Reducing Power in Fumarate Hydratase Null Cells from Hereditary Leiomyomatosis Renal Cell Carcinoma

Fumarate hydratase (FH)-deficient kidney cancer undergoes metabolic remodeling, with changes in mitochondrial respiration, glucose, and glutamine metabolism. These changes represent multiple biochemical adaptations in glucose and fatty acid metabolism that supports malignant proliferation. However, the metabolic linkages between altered mitochondrial function, nucleotide biosynthesis and NADPH production required for proliferation and survival have not been elucidated. To characterize the alterations in glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the pentose phosphate pathways (PPP) that either generate NADPH (oxidative) or do not (non-oxidative), we utilized [U-¹³C]-glucose, [U-¹³C,¹⁵N]-glutamine, and [1,2- ¹³C₂]-glucose tracers with mass spectrometry and NMR detection to track these pathways, and measured the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) of growing cell lines. This metabolic reprogramming in the FH null cells was compared to cells in which FH has been restored. The FH null cells showed a substantial metabolic reorganization of their intracellular metabolic fluxes to fulfill their high ATP demand, as observed by a high rate of glucose uptake, increased glucose turnover via glycolysis, high production of glucose-derived lactate, and low entry of glucose carbon into the Krebs cycle. Despite the truncation of the Krebs cycle associated with inactivation of fumarate hydratase, there was a small but persistent level of mitochondrial respiration, which was coupled to ATP production from oxidation of glutamine-derived α–ketoglutarate through to fumarate. [1,2- ¹³C₂]-glucose tracer experiments demonstrated that the oxidative branch of PPP initiated by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity is preferentially utilized for ribose production (56-66%) that produces increased amounts of ribose necessary for growth and NADPH. Increased NADPH is required to drive reductive carboxylation of α-ketoglutarate and fatty acid synthesis for rapid proliferation and is essential for defense against increased oxidative stress. This increased NADPH producing PPP activity was shown to be a strong consistent feature in both fumarate hydratase deficient tumors and cell line models.     

Regulation of glutamine and pyruvate oxidation in cultured adrenocortical cells by cortisol,antioxidants, and oxygen: Effects on cell proliferation

The regulation of CO₂ production from [U-¹⁴C]glutamine and C₂ of [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate was investigated in cultured bovine adrenocortical cells, and the effect of alterations in the relative rates of oxidation of these substrates on cell proliferation, particularly in the presence of an inhibitor of transamination reactions, was examined. ¹⁴CO₂ production from 2 mM [U-¹⁴C]glutamine and 2 mM [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate was measured in the presence of 100 μM 2,4-dinitrophenol, an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. Treatment of primary cultures for 24 h with 50 μM cortisol increased the oxidation of [¹⁴C]glutamine relative to that of [¹⁴C]pyruvate, an effect dependent on prior low cell density. Cortisol treatment also resulted in a prolonged delay in the onset of proliferation from low density, and completely inhibited growth in the presence of 2 mM aminooxyacetate, which reduces mitochondrial utilization of glutamine. The effects on glutamine and pyruvate metabolism and on cell growth, with or without aminooxyacetate, were prevented by simultaneous treatment with the antioxidants dimethyl sulfoxide (10 mM) and butylated hydroxyanisole (100 μM), suggesting the involvement of lipid peroxidation in the action of cortisol, as previously demonstrated for its action on 11β-hydroxylase. During continued proliferation of adrenocortical cells in the absence of cortisol there was also a slower increase in the oxidation of [¹⁴C]glutamine relative to that of [¹⁴C]pyruvate as a function of population doubling level. The rate of this increase was slowed by growth of cells in 2% O₂ rather than the standard 19% O₂, and accelerated by continued growth of cells in the presence of cortisol. The rate of increase in the oxidation of [¹⁴C]glutamine relative to that of [¹⁴C]pyruvate under these three conditions correlated with inhibition of cell growth by aminooxyacetate. In contrast to the complete inhibition of growth in aminooxyacetate demonstrated by cortisol-treated cells, control cells (19% O₂) did proliferate, although growth was limited, whereas cells at 2% O₂ proliferated to a much greater extent. In the absence of aminooxyacetate the rate of growth in primary adrenocortical cell cultures under these three conditions was similar. Lipid peroxidation appears to make cultured adrenocortical cells dependent on glutamine for mitochondrial function and proliferation by inhibiting the utilization of the normal substrate, pyruvate.     

Glutamate and CO2 production from glutamine in incubated enterocytes of adult and very old rats

Glutamine is the major fuel for enterocytes and promotes the growth of intestinal mucosa. Although oral glutamine exerts a positive effect on intestinal villus height in very old rats, how glutamine is used by enterocytes is unclear. Adult (8 months) and very old (27 months) female rats were exposed to intermittent glutamine supplementation for 50% of their age lifetime. Treated rats received glutamine added to their drinking water, and control rats received water alone. Jejunal epithelial cells (~ 300×10⁶ cells) were incubated in oxygenated Krebs–Henseleit buffer for 30 min containing [1-¹³C] glutamine (~ 17 M) for analysis of glutamine metabolites by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR). An aliquot fraction was incubated in the presence of [U-¹⁴C] glutamine to measure produced CO₂. Glutamine pretreatment increased glutamate production and decreased CO₂ production in very old rats. The ratio CO₂/glutamate, which was very high in control very old rats, was similar at both ages after glutamine pretreatment, as if enterocytes from very old rats recovered the metabolic abilities of enterocytes from adult rats. Our results suggest that long-term treatment with glutamine started before advanced age (a) prevented the loss of rat body weight without limiting sarcopenia and (b) had a beneficial effect on enterocytes from very old rats probably by favoring the role of glutamate as a precursor for glutathione, arginine and proline biosynthesis, which was not detected in ¹³C NMR spectra in our experimental conditions.     

Stable isotope resolved metabolomics analysis of ribonucleotide and RNA metabolism in human lung cancer cells

We have developed a simple NMR-based method to determine the turnover of nucleotides and incorporation into RNA by stable isotope resolved metabolomics (SIRM) in A549 lung cancer cells. This method requires no chemical degradation of the nucleotides or chromatography. During cell growth, the free ribonucleotide pool is rapidly replaced by de novo synthesized nucleotides. Using [U-¹³C]-glucose and [U-¹³C,¹⁵N]-glutamine as tracers, we showed that virtually all of the carbons in the nucleotide riboses were derived from glucose, whereas glutamine was preferentially utilized over glucose for pyrimidine ring biosynthesis, via the synthesis of Asp through the Krebs cycle. Incorporation of the glutamine amido nitrogen into the N3 and N9 positions of the purine rings was also demonstrated by proton-detected ¹⁵N NMR. The incorporation of ¹³C from glucose into total RNA was measured and shown to be a major sink for the nucleotides during cell proliferation. This method was applied to determine the metabolic action of an anti-cancer selenium agent (methylseleninic acid or MSA) on A549 cells. We found that MSA inhibited nucleotide turnover and incorporation into RNA, implicating an important role of nucleotide metabolism in the toxic action of MSA on cancer cells.     

Effectors of fatty acid synthesis in hepatoma tissue culture cells

An investigation was undertaken to better understand the process of fatty acid synthesis in hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells. By comparing the findings to the normal liver some of the differences between normal and cancer tissue were defined. Incubation of the HTC cells in a buffered salt-defatted albumin medium showed that fatty acid synthesis was dependent upon the addition of substrate. The order of stimulation was glucose + pyruvate ～- glucose + alanine ～- glucose + lactate ～- pyruvate > glucose > alanine ? no additions. Fatty acid synthesis in HTC cells was decreased by oleate. In these respects HTC cells are similar to the liver; however, in contrast to the normal liver, N⁶, O²-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (dibutyryl-cAMP) did not inhibit glycolysis or fatty acid synthesis. The cytoplasmic redox potential, as reflected by the lactate to pyruvate ratio, was found to be elevated compared to normal liver but unchanged by the addition of dibutyryl cAMP. Since higher rates of fatty acid synthesis are associated with lower lactate-to-pyruvate ratios in normal liver, it was expected that by decreasing the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio in HTC cells the rate of fatty acid synthesis would increase. One way to lower the lactate to pyruvate ratio is to increase the activity of the malate-aspartate shuttle. Stimulators of the hepatic malate-aspartate shuttle in normal liver (ammonium ion, glutamine, and lysine) had mixed effects on the redox state and fatty acid synthesis in HTC cells. Both ammonium ion and glutamine decreased the redox potential and increased the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Lysine was without effect on either process. Since NH₄Cl and glutamine stimulate the movement of reducing equivalents into the mitochondria and decrease the redox potential, then the stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by NH₄Cl and glutamine may be due to an increase in the movement of reducing equivalents into the mitochondria. However, if the shuttle were rate determining for fatty acid synthesis the rate from added lactate would be the same as from glucose alone but would be lower than from pyruvate which does not require the movement of reducing equivalents. This was not the case. Lactate and pyruvate gave comparable rates which were higher than glucose alone. Other possible sites of stimulation were investigated. The possibility that NH₄⁺ and glutamine stimulated fatty acid synthesis by activating pyruvate dehydrogenase was excluded by finding that dichloroacetate, an activator of pyruvate dehydrogenase, did not stimulate fatty acid synthesis when glucose was added. Stimulation by NH₄⁺ and glutamine at steps beyond pyruvate dehydrogenase was ruled out by the observation that NH₄⁺ caused no stimulation from added pyruvate. NH₄⁺ and glutamine did not alter the pentose phosphate pathway as determined by ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C]- or [6-¹⁴C]glucose. Ammonium ion and glutamine increased glucose consumption and increased lactate and pyruvate accumulation. The increased glycolysis in HTC cells appears to be the explanation for the stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by NH₄⁺ and glutamine, even though glycolysis is much more rapid than fatty acid synthesis in these cells. The following observations support this conclusion. First, the percentage increase in glycolysis caused by NH₄⁺ or glutamine is closely matched by the percentage increase in fatty acid synthesis. Second, the malate-aspartate shuttle, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the steps past pyruvate are not limiting in the absence of NH₄⁺ or glutamine.     

Metabolic flux analysis gives an insight on verapamil induced changes in central metabolism of HL-1 cells

Verapamil has been shown to inhibit glucose transport in several cell types. However, the consequences of this inhibition on central metabolism are not well known. In this study we focused on verapamil induced changes in metabolic fluxes in a murine atrial cell line (HL-1 cells). These cells were adapted to serum free conditions and incubated with 4 μM verapamil and [U-¹³C₅] glutamine. Specific extracellular metabolite uptake/production rates together with mass isotopomer fractions in alanine and glutamate were implemented into a metabolic network model to calculate metabolic flux distributions in the central metabolism. Verapamil decreased specific glucose consumption rate and glycolytic activity by 60%. Although the HL-1 cells show Warburg effect with high lactate production, verapamil treated cells completely stopped lactate production after 24 h while maintaining growth comparable to the untreated cells. Calculated fluxes in TCA cycle reactions as well as NADH/FADH₂ production rates were similar in both treated and untreated cells. This was confirmed by measurement of cell respiration. Reduction of lactate production seems to be the consequence of decreased glucose uptake due to verapamil. In case of tumors, this may have two fold effects; firstly depriving cancer cells of substrate for anaerobic glycolysis on which their growth is dependent; secondly changing pH of the tumor environment, as lactate secretion keeps the pH acidic and facilitates tumor growth. The results shown in this study may partly explain recent observations in which verapamil has been proposed to be a potential anticancer agent. Moreover, in biotechnological production using cell lines, verapamil may be used to reduce glucose uptake and lactate secretion thereby increasing protein production without introduction of genetic modifications and application of more complicated fed-batch processes.     

Metabolic rewiring in cancer cells overexpressing the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper protein (GILZ): Activation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and sensitization to oxidative cell death induced by mitochondrial targeted drugs

Cancer cell metabolism is largely controlled by oncogenic signals and nutrient availability. Here, we highlighted that the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ), an intracellular protein influencing many signaling pathways, reprograms cancer cell metabolism to promote proliferation. We provided evidence that GILZ overexpression induced a significant increase of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation as evidenced by the augmentation in basal respiration, ATP-linked respiration as well as respiratory capacity. Pharmacological inhibition of glucose, glutamine and fatty acid oxidation reduced the activation of GILZ-induced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. At glycolysis level, GILZ-overexpressing cells enhanced the expression of glucose transporters in their plasmatic membrane and showed higher glycolytic reserve. ¹H NMR metabolites quantification showed an up-regulation of amino acid biosynthesis. The GILZ-induced metabolic reprograming is present in various cancer cell lines regardless of their driver mutations status and is associated with higher proliferation rates persisting under metabolic stress conditions. Interestingly, high levels of OXPHOS made GILZ-overexpressing cells vulnerable to cell death induced by mitochondrial pro-oxidants. Altogether, these data indicate that GILZ reprograms cancer metabolism towards mitochondrial OXPHOS and sensitizes cancer cells to mitochondria-targeted drugs with pro-oxidant activities.     

Inhibition of Anaplerotic Glutaminolysis Underlies Selenite Toxicity in Human Lung Cancer

Large clinical trials and model systems studies suggest that the chemical form of selenium dictates chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic efficacy. Selenite induces excess ROS production, which mediates autophagy and eventual cell death in non‐small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma A549 cells. As the mechanisms underlying these phenotypic effects are unclear, the clinical relevance of selenite for cancer therapy remains to be determined. The authors' previous stable isotope‐resolved metabolomics and gene expression analysis showed that selenite disrupts glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and polyamine metabolism in A549 cells, potentially through perturbed glutaminolysis, a vital anaplerotic process for proliferation of many cancer cells. Herein, the role of the glutaminolytic enzyme glutaminase 1 (GLS1) in selenite's toxicity in A549 cells and in patient‐derived lung cancer tissues is investigated. Using [¹³C₆]‐glucose and [¹³C₅,¹⁵N₂]‐glutamine tracers, selenite's action on metabolic networks is determined. Selenite inhibits glutaminolysis and glutathione synthesis by suppressing GLS1 expression, and blocks the Krebs cycle, but transiently activates pyruvate carboxylase activity. Glutamate supplementation partially rescues these anti‐proliferative and oxidative stress activities. Similar metabolic perturbations and necrosis are observed in selenite‐treated human patients' cancerous lung tissues ex vivo. The results support the hypothesis that GLS1 suppression mediates part of the anti‐cancer activity of selenite both in vitro and ex vivo.     

Glutamine fuels proliferation but not migration of endothelial cells

Endothelial metabolism is a key regulator of angiogenesis. Glutamine metabolism in endothelial cells (ECs) has been poorly studied. We used genetic modifications and ¹³C tracing approaches to define glutamine metabolism in these cells. Glutamine supplies the majority of carbons in the tricyclic acid (TCA) cycle of ECs and contributes to lipid biosynthesis via reductive carboxylation. EC‐specific deletion in mice of glutaminase, the initial enzyme in glutamine catabolism, markedly blunts angiogenesis. In cell culture, glutamine deprivation or inhibition of glutaminase prevents EC proliferation, but does not prevent cell migration, which relies instead on aerobic glycolysis. Without glutamine catabolism, there is near complete loss of TCA intermediates, with no compensation from glucose‐derived anaplerosis. Mechanistically, addition of exogenous alpha‐ketoglutarate replenishes TCA intermediates and rescues cellular growth, but simultaneously unveils a requirement for Rac1‐dependent macropinocytosis to provide non‐essential amino acids, including asparagine. Together, these data outline the dependence of ECs on glutamine for cataplerotic processes; the need for glutamine as a nitrogen source for generation of biomass; and the distinct roles of glucose and glutamine in EC biology.     

Bioreactor culture of recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis> S2 cells: characterization of metabolic features related to cell growth and production of the rabies virus glycoprotein

Although several reports have been published on recombinant protein expression using Drosophila cells, information on their metabolism and growth in vitro is relatively scarce. In the present study, we have analyzed the growth and metabolism of transfected S2 cells (S2AcRVGP) in bioreactor cultures with serum-free medium Sf900 II, to evaluate its potential for mass production of a rabies virus glycoprotein (RVGP). Cells were cultured in a 3 l-stirred-tank bioreactor at 28 °C with pH controlled at 6.2 and dissolved oxygen at 50% air saturation. The cells attained a specific growth rate and maximum cell density as high as 0.084 h⁻¹ and 2.3 × 10⁷ cell ml⁻¹, respectively. The main substrates consumed during this rapid growth phase were glucose, glutamine and proline. An atypical accumulation of ammonia and alanine was observed in the culture medium, up to 62 mM and 47 mM, respectively, but lactate was produced in low levels. After exhaustion of glutamine and proline as energy sources, alanine was consumed and production of ammonia increased. The production of recombinant RVGP reached concentrations as high as 178 μg l⁻¹. Premature exhaustion of glutamine, serine and cysteine could be related to degradation of the recombinant glycoprotein. In general, the results demonstrated that S2AcRVGP can be considered an effective vehicle for large-scale recombinant glycoprotein expression and that several critical factors of the bioprocess could be optimized to increase the quality and productivity of the RVGP.     

Metabolic adaptation to the chronic loss of Ca2+ signaling induced by KO of IP3 receptors or the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter

Calcium signaling is essential for regulating many biological processes. Endoplasmic reticulum inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP₃Rs) and the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU) are key proteins that regulate intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ accumulation activates Ca²⁺-sensitive dehydrogenases of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that maintain the biosynthetic and bioenergetic needs of both normal and cancer cells. However, the interplay between calcium signaling and metabolism is not well understood. In this study, we used human cancer cell lines (HEK293 and HeLa) with stable KOs of all three IP₃R isoforms (triple KO [TKO]) or MCU to examine metabolic and bioenergetic responses to the chronic loss of cytosolic and/or mitochondrial Ca²⁺ signaling. Our results show that TKO cells (exhibiting total loss of Ca²⁺ signaling) are viable, displaying a lower proliferation and oxygen consumption rate, with no significant changes in ATP levels, even when made to rely solely on the TCA cycle for energy production. MCU KO cells also maintained normal ATP levels but showed increased proliferation, oxygen consumption, and metabolism of both glucose and glutamine. However, MCU KO cells were unable to maintain ATP levels and died when relying solely on the TCA cycle for energy. We conclude that constitutive Ca²⁺ signaling is dispensable for the bioenergetic needs of both IP₃R TKO and MCU KO human cancer cells, likely because of adequate basal glycolytic and TCA cycle flux. However, in MCU KO cells, the higher energy expenditure associated with increased proliferation and oxygen consumption makes these cells more prone to bioenergetic failure under conditions of metabolic stress.     

Probing the metabolic phenotype of breast cancer cells by multiple tracer stable isotope resolved metabolomics

Breast cancers vary by their origin and specific set of genetic lesions, which gives rise to distinct phenotypes and differential response to targeted and untargeted chemotherapies. To explore the functional differences of different breast cell types, we performed Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM) studies of one primary breast (HMEC) and three breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDAMB-231, and ZR75-1) having distinct genotypes and growth characteristics, using ¹³C₆-glucose, ¹³C-1+2-glucose, ¹³C₅,¹⁵N₂-Gln, ¹³C₃-glycerol, and ¹³C₈-octanoate as tracers. These tracers were designed to probe the central energy producing and anabolic pathways (glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, Krebs Cycle, glutaminolysis, nucleotide synthesis and lipid turnover). We found that glycolysis was not associated with the rate of breast cancer cell proliferation, glutaminolysis did not support lipid synthesis in primary breast or breast cancer cells, but was a major contributor to pyrimidine ring synthesis in all cell types; anaplerotic pyruvate carboxylation was activated in breast cancer versus primary cells. We also found that glucose metabolism in individual breast cancer cell lines differed between in vitro cultures and tumor xenografts, but not the metabolic distinctions between cell lines, which may reflect the influence of tumor architecture/microenvironment.     

Glutamine drives glutathione synthesis and contributes to radiation sensitivity of A549 and H460 lung cancer cell lines

BackgroundIncreased glutamine uptake is known to drive cancer cell proliferation, making tumor cells glutamine-dependent. Glutamine provides additional carbon and nitrogen sources for cell growth. The first step in glutamine utilization is its conversion to glutamate by glutaminase (GLS). Glutamate is a precursor for glutathione synthesis, and we investigated the hypothesis that glutamine drives glutathione synthesis and thereby contributes to cellular defense systems.MethodsThe importance of glutamine for glutathione synthesis was studied in H460 and A549 lung cancer cell lines using glutamine-free medium and bis-2-(5-phenyl-acetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) a GLS inhibitor. Metabolic activities were determined by targeted mass spectrometry.ResultsA significant correlation between glutamine consumption and glutathione excretion was demonstrated in H460 and A549 tumor cells. Culturing in the presence of [¹³C₅]glutamine demonstrated that by 12 h > 50% of excreted glutathione was derived from glutamine. Culturing in glutamine-free medium or treatment with BPTES, a GLS-specific inhibitor, reduced cell proliferation and viability and abolished glutathione excretion. Treatment with glutathione-ester prevented BPTES-induced cytotoxicity. Inhibition of GLS markedly radiosensitized the lung tumor cell lines, suggesting an important role of glutamine-derived glutathione in determining radiation sensitivity.ConclusionsWe demonstrate here for the first time that a significant amount of extracellular glutathione is directly derived from glutamine. This finding adds yet another important function to the already known glutamine dependence of tumor cells and probably tumors as well.General significanceGlutamine is essential for synthesis and excretion of glutathione to promote cell growth and viability.     

Cancer cell metabolism: the essential role of the nonessential amino acid,glutamine

Biochemistry textbooks and cell culture experiments seem to be telling us two different things about the significance of external glutamine supply for mammalian cell growth and proliferation. Despite the fact that glutamine is a nonessential amino acid that can be synthesized by cells from glucose‐derived carbons and amino acid‐derived ammonia, most mammalian cells in tissue culture cannot proliferate or even survive in an environment that does not contain millimolar levels of glutamine. Not only are the levels of glutamine in standard tissue culture media at least ten‐fold higher than other amino acids, but glutamine is also the most abundant amino acid in the human bloodstream, where it is assiduously maintained at approximately 0.5 mM through a combination of dietary uptake, de novo synthesis, and muscle protein catabolism. The complex metabolic logic of the proliferating cancer cells' appetite for glutamine—which goes far beyond satisfying their protein synthesis requirements—has only recently come into focus. In this review, we examine the diversity of biosynthetic and regulatory uses of glutamine and their role in proliferation, stress resistance, and cellular identity, as well as discuss the mechanisms that cells utilize in order to adapt to glutamine limitation.     

Physiological properties of Cellulomonas fermentans,a mesophilic cellulolytic bacterium

Summary The fermentation of cellobiose, glucose and cellulose MN 300 by Cellulomonas fermentans was studied. The molar growth yields (i.e. grams of cells per mole of hexose equivalent) were similar on cellobiose and cellulose at low sugar consumption levels (47.8 and 46.5 respectively), but was lower on glucose (38.0). The occurrence of cellobiose phosphorylase activity, detected in cellobiose- and cellulose-grown cells, might explain this result. The specific growth rates measured in cultures on cellobiose, glucose and cellulose were 0.055 h^-1, 0.040 h^-1 and 0.013 h^-1 respectively. Growth inhibition was observed, and a drop in Y_H occurred after relatively low but different quantities of hexose were consumed (2.2 mM, 5 mM and 8 mM hexose equivalent with cellulose, glucose and cellobiose respectively), which coincided with a change in the fermentative metabolism from a typical mixed acid metabolism (1 ethanol, 1 acetate and 2 formate synthesized by consumed hexose) to a more ethanolic fermentation. When growth ceased in cellulose cultures, consumption of cellulose continued, as did production of ethanol.Molar growth yields of C. fermentans were similar in anaerobic and aerobic cellobiose cultures (47.8 g/mol and 42.2 g/mol respectively). Specific growth rates were also quite similar under both culture conditions (0.055±0.013 h^-1 and 0.070±0.007 h^-1 respectively). Aerobic metabolism was studied using ¹⁴C glucose. During the exponential growth phase, acetate, succinate and nonidentified compound(s) accumulated in the supernatant, but no ¹⁴CO₂ was produced. During the stationary phase, acetate was oxidized and ¹⁴CO₂ produced, but without any further biomass synthesis. It seems that a blocking of metabolite oxidation may have occurred in C. fermentans except in the case of acetate, but acetate oxidation was apparently not coupled with production of energy utilizable in biosynthesis.     

Transport-active renal tubular epithelial cells (MDCK and LLC-PK1) in culutre. Prostaglandin biosynthesis and its regulation by peptide hormones and ionophore

Renal tubular epithelial cells isolated from dog and pig kidney (MDCK and LLC-PK₁, respectively) transport water and electrolytes in culture. MDCK cells resemble collecting tubule cells by additional, but not all, morphologic and biochemical criteria. It has previously been reported that PGE₂ appears to regulate transport activity by MDCK cells as well as their proliferation. We investigated prostaglandin biosynthesis by MDCK and LLC-PK₁ cells and assessed the effects of peptide hormones, bradykinin and vasopressin, on the cells' prostaglandin biosynthesis. Thin-layer chromatography of radioactive products released by MDCK cells labelled with octatritiated of [¹⁴C] arachidonic acid indicated the presence of materials comigrating with PGE₂, PGI₂ (detected as 60oxo0PGF₁α) and PGF₂α, in decreasing order of abundance. Maclofenamate inhibited the biosynthesis of all radioactive peaks comigrating with PGs, thus confirming their identities as product of fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase activity. The chemical identities of [³H] PGE₂ and [³H] 6-oxo-PGF₁α made by the cells were further confirmed by treatment with KOH. Radioimmunoassay of culture fluids incubated with MDCK cells verified that PGE₂ was the most abundant prostaglandin. Tranylcypromine, thought to be a specific inhibitor of prostacyclic synthetase, inhibited PGE₂ as well as PGI₂ biosynthesis indicating a lack of specificity of the inhibitor. The observation of PGE₂ and PGF₂α as respectively the most and least abundant prostaglandinds made by MDCK was in disagreement with results from another laboratory in which the reverse order of abundance was found. This suggests the presence of more than one cell line identified as MDCK but having different biochemical properties.Bradykinin stimulated acylhydrolase activity as well as PGE₂ and PGI₂ biosynthesis in MDCK cells while vasopressin had little or no effect. These results support the hypothesis that bradykinin's natriuretic effects may be mediated by prostaglandinds and that vasopressin is unlikely to acutely stimulate prostaglandin biosynthesis in collecting tubule cells $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$. Endogenous PGE₂ may also regulate the proliferation of MDCK cells in culture.In contrast to MDCK cells, LLC-PK₁ cells lacked significant prostaglandin biosynthetic capability as documented by radiometric thin-layer chromatography and radioimmunoassay. This suggests that prostaglandins may have a modulatory rather than an obligatory role in regulating transport activity by tubular epithelial cells.     

Activated α2-Macroglobulin Binding to Human Prostate Cancer Cells Triggers Insulin-like Responses

Ligation of cell surface GRP78 by activated α₂-macroglobulin (α₂M*) promotes cell proliferation and suppresses apoptosis. α₂M*-treated human prostate cancer cells exhibit a 2–3-fold increase in glucose uptake and lactate secretion, an effect similar to insulin treatment. In both α₂M* and insulin-treated cells, the mRNA levels of SREBP1-c, SREBP2, fatty-acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ATP citrate lyase, and Glut-1 were significantly increased together with their protein levels, except for SREBP2. Pretreatment of cells with α₂M* antagonist antibody directed against the carboxyl-terminal domain of GRP78 blocks these α₂M*-mediated effects, and silencing GRP78 expression by RNAi inhibits up-regulation of ATP citrate lyase and fatty-acid synthase. α₂M* induces a 2–3-fold increase in lipogenesis as determined by 6-[¹⁴C]glucose or 1-[¹⁴C]acetate incorporation into free cholesterol, cholesterol esters, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phosphatidylcholine, which is blocked by inhibitors of fatty-acid synthase, PI 3-kinase, mTORC, or an antibody against the carboxyl-terminal domain of GRP78. We also assessed the incorporation of [¹⁴CH₃]choline into phosphatidylcholine and observed similar effects. Lipogenesis is significantly affected by pretreatment of prostate cancer cells with fatostatin A, which blocks sterol regulatory element-binding protein proteolytic cleavage and activation. This study demonstrates that α₂M* functions as a growth factor, leading to proliferation of prostate cancer cells by promoting insulin-like responses. An antibody against the carboxyl-terminal domain of GRP78 may have important applications in prostate cancer therapy.     

Cytotoxic effects of Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins in the presence of cellular reductant,ascorbate

Abstract

Due to the ability to easily accept and donate electrons Mn(III)N-alkylpyridylporphyrins (MnPs) can dismute O₂ ^·?, reduce peroxynitrite, but also generate reactive species and behave as pro-oxidants if conditions favour such action. Herein two ortho isomers, MnTE-2-PyP⁵⁺, MnTnHex-2-PyP⁵⁺, and a meta isomer MnTnHex-3-PyP⁵⁺, which differ greatly with regard to their metal-centered reduction potential, E_1/2 (Mn^IIIP/Mn^IIP) and lipophilicity, were explored. Employing Mn^IIIP/Mn^IIP redox system for coupling with ascorbate, these MnPs catalyze ascorbate oxidation and thus peroxide production. Consequently, cancer oxidative burden may be enhanced, which in turn would suppress its growth. Cytotoxic effects on Caco-2, Hela, 4T1, HCT116 and SUM149 were studied. When combined with ascorbate, MnPs killed cancer cells via peroxide produced outside of the cell. MnTE-2-PyP⁵⁺ was the most efficacious catalyst for peroxide production, while MnTnHex-3-PyP⁵⁺ is most prone to oxidative degradation with H₂ , and thus the least efficacious. A 4T1 breast cancer mouse study of limited scope and success was conducted. The tumour oxidative stress was enhanced and its microvessel density reduced when mice were treated either with ascorbate or MnP/ascorbate; the trend towards tumour growth suppression was detected.     

Relationships Between Slc1a5 and Osteoclastogenesis

Slc1a5 (ASCT2) encodes a small neutral amino-acid exchanger and is the most well-studied glutamine transporter in cancer cells. To investigate the role of Slc1a5 in osteoclastogenesis, we developed Slc1a5-deficient mice by using a conventional gene-targeting approach. The Slc1a5^−/− mice showed no obvious abnormalities in growth. Glutamine uptake was assessed in Slc1a5^+/+ and Slc1a5^−/− bone marrow cells stimulated with RANKL. The rate of glutamine uptake in Slc1a5^−/− bone marrow cells was reduced to 70% of that of cells from Slc1a5^+/+ bone marrow. To confirm the involvement of Slc1a5 in osteoclast formation, bone marrow cells derived from Slc1a5^+/+ or Slc1a5^−/− mice were stimulated with RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor and stained with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The bone resorption activity and actin ring formation of stimulated cells were measured. The formation of multinucleated osteoclasts in bone marrow cells isolated from Slc1a5^−/− mice was severely impaired compared with those from Slc1a5^+/+ mice. RANKL-induced expression of ERK, NFκB, p70S6K, and NFATc1 was suppressed in Slc1a5^−/− osteoclasts. These results show that Slc1a5 plays an important role in osteoclast formation.

Osteoclasts are giant multinucleated cells of hematopoietic origin that are responsible for bone resorption. The differentiation of osteoclasts can be induced by treating bone marrow macrophages with RANKL.² After stimulation, bone marrow macrophages mature and then fuse to become multinucleated osteoclasts. The processes of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption are known to be energy-demanding,⁸ but little is known about the amino acid requirements of osteoclasts. In this study, we investigated the role of glutamine in osteoclastogenesis. Glutamine was selected for this work because it provides an excellent example of amino acid metabolism.Although glutamine acts as an essential amino acid in some specific physiologic situations, it is classified as a nonessential amino acid.⁵ The need for the biosynthesis and metabolism of amino acids is significantly increased in cells with high rates of proliferation, such as functionally active cells and cancer cells. The activity of amino acid synthetases such as glutamine synthetase is increased in these cells. In addition, glutamine transporters on the plasma membrane are important, because they mediate glutamine uptake to meet the intracellular glutamine demand. The transporter Slc1a5, also known as ASCT2, is particularly important for glutaminolysis and mTOR signaling.^14,16Glutamine concentrations in tissue and blood are regulated by the activities of glutamine synthetase and glutaminase. ­Endogenous synthesis cannot meet the cell’s demands for glutamine in conditions including cancer, infections, and intense physical exercise. Glutamine is released into the blood from the lungs, adipocytes, and skeletal muscles and is transported into the cytoplasm via glutamine acid transporter molecules on the cell membrane. Glutamine is required for the growth of cancer cells; upregulation of the expression of the proteins involved in glutamine transport has been observed in tumor cells.⁴ Slc1a5 (ASCT2) is a small neutral amino acid exchanger that is overexpressed in many cancers and is the most well-described glutamine transporter in cancer cells.⁹ However, previous studies^1,10,22,23 have reported that silencing, deletion, and amino-acid analog substitution of Slc1a5 in cancer cells generated different results for mTORC1 signaling, proliferation, and cell migration.^{1,3,4,10,22,23} Additional work^3,4 has shown that Slc1a5 is indispensable for tumor growth and mTORC1 signaling. Slc1a5 is important in accumulating nonessential amino acids to quickly restore amino acid composition during imbalanced amino acid usage,⁴ whereas Slc38a1 (SNAT1) and Slc38a2 (SNAT2) mediate the net import of glutamine.In bone homeostasis, glutamine is a critical regulator of energy for protein and nucleic acid synthesis via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Active glutamine metabolism stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoclasts. The enzyme glutaminase deaminates glutamine to form glutamate. Glutaminase deficiency in osteoblasts and chondrocytes leads to reduced osteoblast formation and decreased bone mass, resulting in potentially dangerous conditions, such as osteoporosis.²⁴ In osteoclasts, glutamine is an important source of fuel for protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis. Therefore, Slc1a5 deficiency in mice may influence bone homeostasis, including osteoclastogenesis. We therefore created Slc1a5-deficient mice to investigate the contribution of Slc1a5 to the development and functional properties of osteoclasts.