Serine biosynthesis with one carbon catabolism and the glycine cleavage system represents a novel pathway for ATP generation.

ABSTRACT: Previous experimental evidence indicates that some cancer cells have an alternative glycolysis pathway with net zero ATP production, implying that upregulation of glycolysis in these cells may not be related to the generation of ATP. Here we use a genome-scale model of human cell metabolism to investigate the potential metabolic alterations in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis. We uncover a novel pathway for ATP generation that involves reactions from serine biosynthesis, one-carbon metabolism and the glycine cleavage system, and show that the pathway is transcriptionally upregulated in an inducible murine model of Myc-driven liver tumorigenesis. This pathway has a predicted two-fold higher flux rate in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis than those using standard glycolysis and generate

SUBMITTER: Vazquez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3206798 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature