Cancer Cells’ Sweet Tooth Unveiled! Major Breakthrough by Tsinghua Professors
It turns out that cancer cells have a "sweet tooth"! Associate Professor Lin Kaiti from the Institute of Biotechnology and Associate Professor Cheng Huichun from the Institute of Bioinformatics at Tsinghua University have collaborated to solve a century-old scientific puzzle. This groundbreaking discovery has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications!
Key Discovery: How Hydrogen Sulfide Regulates Cancer Cell Metabolism
The research team revealed a stunning truth: in the hypoxic environment of tumors, cancer cells secrete hydrogen sulfide, which causes the protein pyruvate kinase (PKM2) to break down into smaller dimers or monomers. This structural change allows cancer cells to consume more glucose for glycolysis, synthesize DNA, and proliferate rapidly. This breakthrough offers a fresh perspective on the century-old "Warburg Effect"!
Innovative Experimental Results
Using advanced gene editing technology, the team identified a crucial mechanism behind cancer cells' "sugar addiction": preventing hydrogen sulfide from tagging pyruvate kinase at specific sites. This intervention preserves the protein’s original tetrameric structure, restores aerobic respiration in cancer cells, and effectively inhibits tumor growth. Even more exciting, this innovation has been validated in mouse experiments, showing effective suppression of breast cancer tumors!
Tsinghua Women Power: Cross-Disciplinary Innovation
Four outstanding female scientists collaborated to achieve this remarkable breakthrough:
🔬 Associate Professor Lin Kaiti (Institute of Biotechnology): Specializes in cancer cell biology
🔬 Associate Professor Cheng Huichun (Institute of Bioinformatics): Expert in protein structure analysis
🔬 Distinguished Professor Wang Wenjing (Department of Life Sciences): Provided key protein materials
🔬 Professor Wang Huiching (Institute of Molecular Biology): Assisted with microscopy analysis
Special thanks to Academician Wang Luhai from China Medical University and Academician Kung Hsingchien from Taipei Medical University for their guidance in driving this foundational research towards clinical applications.