Question

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is expressed in most cancer cells. It has a reduced catalytic activity relative to PKM1, which is expressed in quiescent cells. The significance of PKM2 expression in cancer cells is that PKM2 enhances the conversion of pyruvate to lactate and the regeneration of NAD+ needed for glycolysis to continue.

True or False

Answer 1

tumor cells are different from healthy cells in the sense that they depend on aerobic glycolysis to produce energy even if there is sufficient oxygen in the surrounding. the switching of the cell from the normal respiratory pathway to aerobic glycolysis is known as the Warburg effect. the cancer cell produces additional energy by increasing the reaction rate of glycolysis with the production of lactate in glycolysis. PKM1 is found to be up-regulated in the tissues that demand a massive supply of energy like the heart, brain, and embryonic tissue. in the case of cancer cells, PKM2 expression is up-regulated. PKM1 and PKM2 have different enzymatic properties and both are regulated by several factors at different transcription and post-transcriptional levels. NAD+ is necessary for glycolysis it is true.