Rho GTPases and their roles in cancer metabolism.

Kristin F Wilson, Jon W Erickson, Marc A Antonyak, Richard A Cerione

Trends in molecular medicine 2013 Feb

filter terms:

Recently, the small molecule 968 was found to block the Rho GTPase-dependent growth of cancer cells in cell culture and mouse xenografts, and when the target of 968 was found to be the mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase (GLS1), it revealed a surprising link between Rho GTPases and mitochondrial glutamine metabolism. Signal transduction via the Rho GTPases, together with NF-κB, appears to elevate mitochondrial glutaminase activity in cancer cells, thereby helping cancer cells satisfy their altered metabolic demands. Here, we review what is known about the mechanism of glutaminase activation in cancer cells, compare the properties of two distinct glutaminase inhibitors, and discuss recent findings that shed new light on how glutamine metabolism might affect cancer progression. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Kristin F Wilson, Jon W Erickson, Marc A Antonyak, Richard A Cerione. Rho GTPases and their roles in cancer metabolism. Trends in molecular medicine. 2013 Feb;19(2):74-82