Role in post-translational modification of M2-type pyruvate kinase in tumorigenesis and development

PKM2, also known as M2-type pyruvate kinase, has attracted significant attention due to its crucial role in glycolysis and its abnormal expression in various tumors. With the discovery of PKM2's non-metabolic functions, the transition between its pyruvate kinase activity (in the tetrameric form in the cytoplasm) and protein kinase activity (in the dimeric form in the nucleus) has once again made PKM2 a target of interest in cancer research. Studies have shown that PKM2 is a protein susceptible to various post-translational modifications, and different post-translational modifications play important regulatory roles in processes such as PKM2 cellular localization, structure, and enzyme activity conversion. In this review, we focused on the recent progress of multiple post-translational modifications of PKM2 and their important roles in tumor initiation and development. For example, phosphorylation and acetylation promote nuclear translocation by altering PKM2 cell localization; glycosylation and ubiquitination can promote the formation of dimer structure by affecting the structural transformation of PKM2; succinylation and redox modification promoted the enhancement of PKM2 kinase activity by affecting the transformation of kinase activity. Both changes affect the structure and cell localization of PKM2 and they play a role in promoting or inhibiting tumor development via altering its kinase activity.