Biochemistry Metabolic Sensor

L. Bryan Ray

Science, Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA

The enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) catalyzes the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine from uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) to serine or threonine residues of intracellular proteins and responds to the metabolic status of the cell. Yi et al. (see the Perspective by Mattaini and Vander Heiden) show that O-GlcNAcylation of phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK1) reduces its activity, thus influencing rates of glycolysis within cells. O-GlcNAcylation of PFK1 was increased in cells exposed to hypoxia and was increased in several cell lines derived from human tumors. Thus, metabolic changes mediated by O-GlcNAcylation may benefit anabolism and growth of cancer cells. However, glycosylation of PFK1 was not detected in rapidly proliferating normal cells.

W. Yi, P. M. Clark, D. E. Mason, M. C. Keenan, C. Hill, W. A. Goddard III, E. C. Peters, E. M. Driggers, L. C. Hsieh-Wilson, Phosphofructokinase 1 glycosylation regulates cell growth and metabolism. Science 337, 975–980 (2012). [Abstract] [Full Text]

K. R. Mattaini, M. G. Vander Heiden, Glycosylation to adapt to stress. Science 337, 925–926 (2012). [Abstract] [Full Text]

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In Science Signaling

RESEARCH ARTICLES
Biochemistry
Extensive Crosstalk Between O-GlcNAcylation and Phosphorylation Regulates Cytokinesis

Zihao Wang, Namrata D. Udeshi, Chad Slawson, Philip D. Compton, Kaoru Sakabe, Win D. Cheung, Jeffrey Shabanowitz, Donald F. Hunt, and Gerald W. Hart (12 January 2010)
Sci. Signal. 3 (104), ra2. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2000526]
 |  Editor's Summary »  |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Supplementary Materials »

PERSPECTIVES
Cancer
PKM2 Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Glutamine Metabolism Signal a Different View of the Warburg Effect

Chi V. Dang (17 November 2009)
Sci. Signal. 2 (97), pe75. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.297pe75]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

PERSPECTIVES
Cancer
Metabolic Targeting as an Anticancer Strategy: Dawn of a New Era?

James G. Pan and Tak W. Mak (10 April 2007)
Sci. STKE 2007 (381), pe14. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.3812007pe14]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

REVIEWS
STKE Reviews
The Hexosamine Signaling Pathway: Deciphering the "O-GlcNAc Code"

Dona C. Love and John A. Hanover (29 November 2005)
Sci. STKE 2005 (312), re13. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.3122005re13]
 |  Gloss »  |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  OGT Structure Movie »