Deregulation of glucose transporter 1 and glycolytic gene expression by c-Myc

J Biol Chem. 2000 Jul 21;275(29):21797-800. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C000023200.

Abstract

Unlike normal mammalian cells, which use oxygen to generate energy, cancer cells rely on glycolysis for energy and are therefore less dependent on oxygen. We previously observed that the c-Myc oncogenic transcription factor regulates lactate dehydrogenase A and induces lactate overproduction. We, therefore, sought to determine whether c-Myc controls other genes regulating glucose metabolism. In Rat1a fibroblasts and murine livers overexpressing c-Myc, the mRNA levels of the glucose transporter GLUT1, phosphoglucose isomerase, phosphofructokinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and enolase were elevated. c-Myc directly transactivates genes encoding GLUT1, phosphofructokinase, and enolase and increases glucose uptake in Rat1 fibroblasts. Nuclear run-on studies confirmed that the GLUT1 transcriptional rate is elevated by c-Myc. Our findings suggest that overexpression of the c-Myc oncoprotein deregulates glycolysis through the activation of several components of the glucose metabolic pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fibroblasts
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genes, myc*
  • Glucose / genetics*
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Glycolysis / genetics
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Slc2a1 protein, rat
  • Glucose