Question

The synthesis of lipids in cancer cells is dependent upon mitochondrial citrate, which is derived from both glucose and glutamine.

True or False

Answer 1

True- The synthesis of lipids in cancer cells is dependent upon mitochondrial citrate, which is derived from both glucose and glutamine.

Glucose is converted to pyruvate through glycolysis which then undergoes oxidation to form acetyl CoA. This enters Kreb`s cycle and reacts with acetyl Co A to form citrate in the first step.

Glutamine can also produce acetyl-CoA via reductive carboxylation, in which glutamine-derived AKG is carboxylated to produce isocitrate/citrate, which is then cleaved to generate OAA and acetyl-CoA.