Repository logo
 

Two parallel pathways connect glutamine metabolism and mTORC1 activity to regulate glutamoptosis.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Tomé, Mercedes 

Abstract

Glutamoptosis is the induction of apoptotic cell death as a consequence of the aberrant activation of glutaminolysis and mTORC1 signaling during nutritional imbalance in proliferating cells. The role of the bioenergetic sensor AMPK during glutamoptosis is not defined yet. Here, we show that AMPK reactivation blocks both the glutamine-dependent activation of mTORC1 and glutamoptosis in vitro and in vivo. We also show that glutamine is used for asparagine synthesis and the GABA shunt to produce ATP and to inhibit AMPK, independently of glutaminolysis. Overall, our results indicate that glutamine metabolism is connected with mTORC1 activation through two parallel pathways: an acute alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent pathway; and a secondary ATP/AMPK-dependent pathway. This dual metabolic connection between glutamine and mTORC1 must be considered for the future design of therapeutic strategies to prevent cell growth in diseases such as cancer.

Description

Keywords

Cell Line, Tumor, HCT116 Cells, Animals, Mice, Inbred NOD, Mice, Knockout, Humans, Mice, SCID, Sirolimus, Glutamine, Adenosine Triphosphate, Antineoplastic Agents, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Signal Transduction, Apoptosis, Cell Proliferation, Male, AMP-Activated Protein Kinases, HEK293 Cells, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1

Journal Title

Nature communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723

Volume Title

12

Publisher