Integration of Mitochondrial Targeting for Molecular Cancer Therapeutics

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of metabolic networks placing mitochondria at the center of anabolic and bioenergetics pathways in cancer cells. Anabolic pathways are responsible for the production of macromolecules used for growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Red lines indicate glycolysis: multisteps conversion of glucose to pyruvate and pyruvate to lactate allowing the flux of glucose intermediates to fulfill anabolic pathways such as the pentose phosphate pathway and the PHGDH/serine pathway for nucleotides, lipids, and AA biosynthesis (see text for details). The decoupling of glycolysis from mitochondria is also observed. Mitochondria participate in ATP production through oxidation of alternative substrates such as glutamine or fatty acid (FA). Furthermore, mitochondria are also involved in anabolic pathways for producing building blocks (AA, lipids). Glutamine refills TCA intermediates (anaplerosis) and can feed the reverse TCA cycle for lipid synthesis (blue arrows) (see text for details).