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Proline metabolism in cancer
Pengyu Geng1, Wangshu Qin1, Guowang Xu2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China.
Amino Acids
|August 14, 2021
Summary
Proline metabolism is crucial for cancer cell growth and spread. Targeting enzymes involved in proline synthesis, storage (collagen), and breakdown offers a potential new strategy for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Metabolic pathways
Background:
- Cancer cells reprogram metabolism for proliferation.
- Proline is an abundant amino acid vital for tumor growth.
- Proline metabolism impacts ATP production, protein synthesis, and redox balance.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review the role of proline metabolic enzymes in cancer.
- Highlight proline metabolism's influence on cancer proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis.
- Explore proline metabolism as a potential cancer treatment strategy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of proline metabolism in cancer.
- Analysis of proline synthesis pathways (ALDH18A1, PYCR).
- Examination of proline storage (collagen) and degradation (PRODH/POX) roles.
Main Results:
- Upregulation of ALDH18A1 and PYCR promotes cancer proliferation and invasion.
- Collagen synthesis (proline hydroxylation by P4Hs) affects cancer cell plasticity and metastasis.
- Proline catabolism has a dual role, influencing apoptosis, survival, and metastasis.
Conclusions:
- Proline metabolic enzymes are key regulators in cancer development.
- Genetic and post-translational regulation of these enzymes is linked to cancer.
- Targeting proline metabolism presents a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
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