Volume 34, No 1, Jan 2024

ISSN: 1001-0602 
EISSN: 1748-7838 2018 
impact factor 17.848* 
(Clarivate Analytics, 2019)

Volume 34 Issue 1, January 2024: 76-79   |  Open Access

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Structural basis for activation and filamentation of glutaminase

Chen-Jun Guo¹ , Zi-Xuan Wang¹ , Ji-Long Liu^1,2,*

¹School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
²Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Correspondence: Ji-Long Liu(liujl3@shanghaitech.edu.cn)

Dear Editor,

Glutaminase catalyzes the first step of glutamine metabolism, converting glutamine to glutamate, which enters the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In human, glutaminase is encoded by two different genes, GLS1 and GLS2.1 GLS1 can be alternatively spliced into kidney glutaminase A (KGA) and highly active glutaminase isoform C (GAC)1 (Fig. 1a). GAC can be further activated by anions.2 It has been observed that GAC can form active filaments both in vitro and in vivo.3,4 Glutamine, in addition to glucose, is another vital metabolite for cell.5,6 Glutaminase, especially the GAC isoform, is highly overexpressed in various cancers for the utilization of glutamine.7,8 Currently, a specific glutaminase inhibitor is undergoing several clinical trials.9,10 Activating glutaminase can effectively eliminate cancer cells and solid tumors, and has significant therapeutic potentials.11

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-023-00886-0

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