Glutamine modulates cellular size by regulating Wee1 expression
Didhiti Singha1, Meghna Mondal1, Debopriya Choudhury1
1Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Kolkata, India.
Scientific Reports
|October 3, 2025
Summary
Glutamine, a key nutrient, regulates cancer cell size by influencing Wee1 expression. Depleting glutamine reduces cell size and polyploidy, offering potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cancer Biology
- Cell Metabolism
- Molecular Oncology
Background:
- Cancer cells exhibit altered size regulation, impacting proliferation and survival.
- Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) are linked to tumor progression and treatment resistance.
- The role of glutamine in cancer cell size control is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of glutamine in regulating cancer cell size.
- To explore the relationship between glutamine, Wee1, and cell size.
- To understand glutamine's impact on polyploidy in cancer cells.
Main Methods:
- Cellular size measurements under glutamine-depleted conditions.
- Analysis of Wee1 (a cell cycle regulator) mRNA and protein expression.
- Assessment of cytochalasin-B-induced polyploidy in glutamine-deprived cells.
- Wee1 knockdown experiments.
Main Results:
- Glutamine depletion significantly reduced cancer cell size.
- Wee1 expression (mRNA and protein) decreased with glutamine depletion.
- Wee1 knockdown also reduced cell size.
- Glutamine deprivation diminished cytochalasin-B-induced polyploidy.
Conclusions:
- Glutamine is a critical regulator of cancer cell size.
- Glutamine influences cell size, partly through modulating Wee1 expression.
- These findings highlight glutamine's role in metabolic control of cell size and offer potential therapeutic avenues.
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