Catabolism of extracellular glutathione supplies cysteine to support tumours - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #cancer metabolism
- #amino acid supply
- #glutathione
- Extracellular glutathione (GSH) acts as a reservoir of amino acids, supporting tumour growth.
- Depletion of intracellular GSH does not affect tumour growth, highlighting the importance of extracellular GSH.
- GSH supplementation rescues cancer cell survival and growth in cystine-deficient conditions, dependent on γ-glutamyltransferases activity.
- Pharmacological inhibition of γ-glutamyltransferases reduces tumour cysteine levels and slows tumour growth.
- Targeting extracellular GSH or its breakdown presents a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer patients.
- The study redefines the role of GSH in supplying amino acids like cysteine to tumours.