The Transsulfuration Pathway Makes, the Tumor Takes

Ross Weber; Kıvanç Birsoy

doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2019.10.009

The Transsulfuration Pathway Makes, the Tumor Takes

Cell Metab. 2019 Nov 5;30(5):845-846. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.10.009.

Authors

Ross Weber¹, Kıvanç Birsoy²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
² Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: kbirsoy@rockefeller.edu.

PMID: 31693878
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.10.009

Abstract

Cells can take up cysteine or synthesize it de novo from methionine, but synthesis alone does not meet the high demands of cancer cells to proliferate. In this issue, Zhu et al. (2019) identify the SAH:SAM ratio, indicative of the cellular methylation state, as limiting for effective cysteine synthesis and the growth of some tumors.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Cysteine*
Humans
Methionine
Methylation
Neoplasms*

Substances

Methionine
Cysteine