In addition to energy needs, cancer cells also need metabolic intermediates for biosynthesis. Explain how increased...

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Medical Sciences

In addition to energy needs, cancer cells also need metabolicintermediates for biosynthesis. Explain how increased reliance onglycolysis would be beneficial in this respect.
Glycolysis offers a growth advantage to cancers growing underhypoxic conditions. Why might this be the case? (Hint: what is theproduct of anaerobic glycolysis?)
A decrease in oxidative phosphorylation also leads to adecrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Why might this be anadvantage for cancer cells?

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1 Tumor cells live in an hypoxic or low oxygen environment Hence they undergo anaerobic respiration to obtain ATP In anaerobic pyruvate obtained by glycolysis is converted to lactic acid and NAD is regenerated from NADH This NAD is used again as reducing power for glycolysis This NAD will help increase glycolysis Tumor cells are also capable of aerobic respiration where ATP is generated by TCA cycle coupled to oxidative phosphorylation PFK1 is an important regulator of glycolytic flux In cancer cells PFK2 is expressed in high amounts which leads to production of Fructose 26 bisphosphate This F26 bP overcome negative feedback regulation of PFK21 by ATP Thus glycolysis can occur even in high ATP levels Pyruvate kinase M2 is expressed in cancer cells over PKM1 isoform which converts PEP to Pyruvate In See Answer

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