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GCN2: roles in tumour development and progression

Lyssa T Gold1, Glenn R Masson1

  • 1Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, U.K.

Biochemical Society Transactions
|March 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

General control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) kinase rewires cell metabolism during starvation. This review explores GCN2

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Metabolism
  • Oncology

Background:

  • General control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) is an eIF2α kinase.
  • GCN2 regulates cellular metabolism under amino acid starvation.
  • GCN2 is increasingly recognized as a potential cancer therapeutic target.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the literature on GCN2 in various cancers.
  • To analyze the biochemical, molecular, and cellular roles of GCN2 in tumorigenesis.
  • To determine consensus on targeting GCN2 in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of biochemical and cellular studies.
  • Analysis of GCN2's role in different cancer models.
  • Investigation of GCN2's association with cancer stem cells and drug resistance.

Main Results:

  • GCN2 overexpression supports tumor growth under nutritional stress.
  • GCN2 contributes to cancer stem cell development and chemotherapeutic resistance.
  • Studies on GCN2 in cancer utilize diverse model systems and conditions.

Conclusions:

  • GCN2 plays a significant role in cancer progression and drug resistance.
  • Further research is needed to establish clear consensus on GCN2 targeting strategies.
  • Understanding GCN2's context-dependent functions is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
Keywords:
GCN2cancer signallingintegrate stress responsestarvation signaling

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