Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.1.1 (hexokinase)
 5,274 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a key enzyme that plays a critical role in numerous metabolic functions by catalyzing the synthesis for long-chain fatty acids. FASN is highly expressed in various human cancers. This preferential expression makes FASN an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Hexokinase II (HKII) is overexpressed in most cancer cells, and it generally localizes to the outer mitochondrial membrane. Recent studies have demonstrated the protective role of mitochondrial HKII in preservation of mitochondrial integrity. The association of hexokinase with mitochondria has emerged as a powerful mechanism in protecting numerous cell types against cell death. We performed this study to examine the mechanism underlying apoptosis induced by cerulenin and with specific focus on its effect on HKII in ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells. Additionally, we sought to elucidate whether inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway can potentiate the anticancer effect of cerulenin. Here, we showed that cerulenin disrupts the physical association between HKII and AIF, leading to eventual cell death. In addition, LY294002, a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, sensitized ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells to cerulenin-induced apoptosis. Collectively, cerulenin induces apoptosis via disrupting the interaction between AIF and HKII and inhibition of PI3K sensitizes cells to cerulenin-induced apoptosis in ZR-75-1 cells.
 ...
PMID:Cerulenin-induced apoptosis is mediated by disrupting the interaction between AIF and hexokinase II. 2242 50

VDAC1 is found at the crossroads of metabolic and survival pathways. VDAC1 controls metabolic cross-talk between mitochondria and the rest of the cell by allowing the influx and efflux of metabolites, ions, nucleotides, Ca2+ and more. The location of VDAC1 at the outer mitochondrial membrane also enables its interaction with proteins that mediate and regulate the integration of mitochondrial functions with cellular activities. As a transporter of metabolites, VDAC1 contributes to the metabolic phenotype of cancer cells. Indeed, this protein is over-expressed in many cancer types, and silencing of VDAC1 expression induces an inhibition of tumor development. At the same time, along with regulating cellular energy production and metabolism, VDAC1 is involved in the process of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by mediating the release of apoptotic proteins and interacting with anti-apoptotic proteins. The engagement of VDAC1 in the release of apoptotic proteins located in the inter-membranal space involves VDAC1 oligomerization that mediates the release of cytochrome c and AIF to the cytosol, subsequently leading to apoptotic cell death. Apoptosis can also be regulated by VDAC1, serving as an anchor point for mitochondria-interacting proteins, such as hexokinase (HK), Bcl2 and Bcl-xL, some of which are also highly expressed in many cancers. By binding to VDAC1, HK provides both a metabolic benefit and apoptosis-suppressive capacity that offer the cell a proliferative advantage and increase its resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, these and other functions point to VDAC1 as an excellent target for impairing the re-programed metabolism of cancer cells and their ability to evade apoptosis. Here, we review current evidence pointing to the function of VDAC1 in cell life and death, and highlight these functions in relation to both cancer development and therapy. In addressing the recently solved 3D structures of VDAC1, this review will point to structure-function relationships of VDAC as critical for deciphering how this channel can perform such a variety of roles, all of which are important for cell life and death. Finally, this review will also provide insight into VDAC function in Ca2+ homeostasis, protection against oxidative stress, regulation of apoptosis and involvement in several diseases, as well as its role in the action of different drugs. We will discuss the use of VDAC1-based strategies to attack the altered metabolism and apoptosis of cancer cells. These strategies include specific siRNA able to impair energy and metabolic homeostasis, leading to arrested cancer cell growth and tumor development, as well VDAC1-based peptides that interact with anti-apoptotic proteins to induce apoptosis, thereby overcoming the resistance of cancer cell to chemotherapy. Finally, small molecules targeting VDAC1 can induce apoptosis. VDAC1 can thus be considered as standing at the crossroads between mitochondrial metabolite transport and apoptosis and hence represents an emerging cancer drug target. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane channels and transporters in cancers.
 ...
PMID:The mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel 1 in tumor cells. 2544 78

This review presents current knowledge related to VDAC1 as a multi-functional mitochondrial protein acting on both sides of the coin, regulating cell life and death, and highlighting these functions in relation to disease. It is now recognized that VDAC1 does not only play a crucial role in regulating the metabolic and energetic functions of mitochondria. The location of VDAC1 at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) allows the control of metabolic cross-talk between mitochondria and the rest of the cell and also enables its interaction with proteins involved in metabolic and survival pathways. Along with regulating cellular energy production and metabolism, VDAC1 is also involved in the process of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by mediating the release of apoptotic proteins and interacting with anti-apoptotic proteins. VDAC1 functions in the release of apoptotic proteins located in the mitochondrion inter-membranal space via oligomerization to form a large channel that allows passage of cytochrome c and AIF and their release to the cytosol, subsequently apoptotic cell death. VDAC1 also regulates apoptosis via interactions with apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as hexokinase (HK), Bcl2 and Bcl-xL, some of which are also highly expressed in many cancers. This review also provide insight into VDAC1 function in Ca2+ homeostasis, oxidative stress, and presents VDAC1 as a hub protein interacting with over 100 proteins. Such interactions enable VDAC1 to mediate and regulate the integration of mitochondrial functions with cellular activities. VDAC1 can thus be considered as standing at the crossroads between mitochondrial metabolite transport and apoptosis and hence represents an emerging cancer drug target.
 ...
PMID:VDAC1 at the crossroads of cell metabolism, apoptosis and cell stress. 3054 71