Mechanism by which a recently discovered allosteric inhibitor blocks glutamine metabolism in transformed cells.

ABSTRACT: The mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase C (GAC) catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate plus ammonia, a key step in the metabolism of glutamine by cancer cells. Recently, we discovered a class of allosteric inhibitors of GAC that inhibit cancer cell growth without affecting their normal cellular counterparts, with the lead compound being the bromo-benzophenanthridinone 968. Here, we take advantage of mouse embryonic fibroblasts transformed by oncogenic Dbl, which hyperactivates Rho GTPases, together with (13)C-labeled glutamine and stable-isotope tracing methods, to establish that 968 selectively blocks the enhancement in glutaminolysis necessary for satisfying the glutamine addiction of cancer cells. We then determine how 968 inhibits the catalytic activity of GAC. First, we devel

SUBMITTER: Stalnecker CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4299208 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature