Nutrient transporters: the Achilles' heel of anabolism

AN McCracken, AL Edinger - Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2013 - cell.com
AN McCracken, AL Edinger
Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2013cell.com
Highly proliferative cells, including cancer cells, require a constant supply of molecular
building blocks to support their growth. To acquire substrates such as glucose and amino
acids from the extracellular space, dividing cells rely on transporter proteins in the plasma
membrane. Numerous studies link transcriptional and post-translational control of nutrient
transporter expression with proliferation, highlighting the importance of nutrient transporters
in both physiologic and pathologic growth. Here we review recent work that spotlights the …
Highly proliferative cells, including cancer cells, require a constant supply of molecular building blocks to support their growth. To acquire substrates such as glucose and amino acids from the extracellular space, dividing cells rely on transporter proteins in the plasma membrane. Numerous studies link transcriptional and post-translational control of nutrient transporter expression with proliferation, highlighting the importance of nutrient transporters in both physiologic and pathologic growth. Here we review recent work that spotlights the crucial role of nutrient transporters in cell growth and proliferation, discuss post-translational mechanisms for coordinating expression of different transporters, and consider the therapeutic potential of targeting these proteins in cancer and other diseases characterized by inappropriate cell division.
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