Metabolic Heterogeneity, Plasticity, and Adaptation to Glutamine Addiction in Cancer Cells: The Role of Glutaminase and the GT omega A [Glutamine Transaminase-omega-Amidase (Glutaminase II)] Pathway

Many types of cancer cells utilize the common amino acid L-glutamine to maintain their metabolic demands for energy and the nitrogen required for DNA synthesis. Versatility to control energy metabolism from L-glutamine (anaplerosis) is promoted by the use of two distinct pathways. The first (pathway 1; the canonical pathway) is as follows: [ L-glutamine -> Lglutamate reversible arrow alpha-ketoglutarate -> tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle]. This pathway contrasts with the much less studied GT omega A (glutamine transaminase-omega-amidase or glutaminase II) pathway (pathway 2): [L-glutamine reversible arrow alpha-ketoglutaramate (KGM) reversible arrow alpha-ketoglutarate -> TCA cycle]. Our prior publications have emphasized the importance of regulation of both pathways, which enables cancer cells to maintain selective metabolic advantages and to conserve their reliance on glucose. This review summarizes the metabolic importance of the GT omega A pathway in both cancerous and normal tissues and proposes that anti-cancer strategies, based on inhibition of L-glutamine metabolism, require consideration of both the canonical and GT omega A pathways. Many cancers utilize L-glutamine as a major energy source. Often cited in the literature as L-glutamine addiction, this well-characterized pathway involves hydrolysis of L-glutamine by a glutaminase to L-glutamate, followed by oxidative deamination, or transamination, to alpha-ketoglutarate, which enters the tricarboxylic acid cycle. However, mammalian tissues/cancers possess a rarely mentioned, alternative pathway (the glutaminase II pathway): L-glutamine is transaminated to alpha-ketoglutaramate (KGM), followed by omega-amidase (omega A)-catalyzed hydrolysis of KGM to alpha-ketoglutarate. The name glutaminase II may be confused with the glutaminase 2 (GLS2) isozyme. Thus, we recently renamed the glutaminase II pathway the glutamine transaminase omega-amidase (GT omega A) pathway. Herein, we summarize the metabolic importance of the GT omega A pathway, including its role in closing the methionine salvage pathway, and as a source of anaplerotic alpha-ketoglutarate. An advantage of the GT omega A pathway is that there is no net change in redox status, permitting alpha-ketoglutarate production during hypoxia, diminishing cellular energy demands. We suggest that the ability to coordinate control of both pathways bestows a metabolic advantage to cancer cells. Finally, we discuss possible benefits of GT omega A pathway inhibitors, not only as aids to studying the normal biological roles of the pathway but also as possible useful anticancer agents.

Automated summary

Many types of cancer cells rely on L-glutamine to meet their metabolic demands. This review highlights the metabolic importance of the GT omega A pathway in cancer cells and proposes that targeting L-glutamine metabolism requires consideration of both the canonical and GT omega A pathways. L-glutamine is a major energy source for many cancers.