Glutaminolysis

Glutaminolysis is a series of biochemical reactions by which the amino acid glutamine is degraded to glutamate, aspartate, CO2, pyruvate, lactate, alanine and citrate.

The glutaminolytic pathway
Glutaminolysis partially recruits reaction steps from the citric acid cycle and the malate-aspartate shuttle.

Reaction steps from glutamine to α-ketoglutarate
The conversion of the amino acid glutamine to α-ketoglutarate takes place in two reaction steps:



1. Hydrolysis of the amino group of glutamine yielding glutamate and ammonium. Catalyzing enzyme: glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2)

2. Glutamate can be excreted or can be further metabolized to α-ketoglutarate.

For the conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate three different reactions are possible:

Catalyzing enzymes:
 * glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH), EC 1.4.1.2
 * glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), also called alanine transaminase (ALT), EC 2.6.1.2
 * glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), also called aspartate transaminase (AST), EC 2.6.1.1 (component of the malate aspartate shuttle)

Recruited reaction steps of the citric acid cycle and malate aspartate shuttle


catalyzing enzyme: α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex
 * α-ketoglutarate + NAD+ + CoASH → succinyl-CoA + NADH+H+ + CO2

catalyzing enzyme: succinyl-CoA-synthetase, EC 6.2.1.4
 * succinyl-CoA + GDP + Pi → succinate + GTP

catalyzing enzyme: succinate dehydrogenase, EC 1.3.5.1
 * succinate + FAD → fumarate + FADH2

catalyzing enzyme: fumarase, EC 4.2.1.2
 * fumarate + H2O → malate

catalyzing enzyme: malate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.37 (component of the malate aspartate shuttle)
 * malate + NAD+ → oxaloacetate + NADH + H+

catalyzing enzyme: citrate synthase, EC 2.3.3.1
 * oxaloacetate + acetyl-CoA + H2O → citrate + CoASH

Reaction steps from malate to pyruvate and lactate
The conversion of malate to pyruvate and lactate is catalyzed by


 * NAD(P) dependent malate decarboxylase (malic enzyme; EC 1.1.1.39 and 1.1.1.40) and
 * lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27)

according to the following equations:


 * malate + NAD(P)+→ pyruvate + NAD(P)H + H+ + CO2


 * pyruvate + NADH + H+ → lactate + NAD+

Intracellular compartmentalization of the glutaminolytic pathway
The reactions of the glutaminolytic pathway take place partly in the mitochondria and to some extent in the cytosol (compare the metabolic scheme of the glutaminolytic pathway).

Glutaminolysis: an important energy source in tumor cells
Glutaminolysis takes place in all proliferating cells, such as lymphocytes, thymocytes, colonocytes, adipocytes and especially in tumor cells. In tumor cells the citric acid cycle is truncated due to an inhibition of the enzyme aconitase (EC 4.2.1.3) by high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS)  Aconitase catalyzes the conversion of citrate to isocitrate. On the other hand tumor cells over express phosphate dependent glutaminase and NAD(P)-dependent malate decarboxylase, which in combination with the remaining reaction steps of the citric acid cycle from α-ketoglutarate to citrate impart the possibility of a new energy producing pathway, the degradation of the amino acid glutamine to glutamate, aspartate, pyruvate CO2, lactate and citrate.

Besides glycolysis in tumor cells glutaminolysis is another main pillar for energy production. High extracellular glutamine concentrations stimulate tumor growth and are essential for cell transformation. On the other hand a reduction of glutamine correlates with phenotypical and functional differentiation of the cells.

Energy efficacy of glutaminolysis in tumor cells

 * one ATP by direct phosphorylation of GDP
 * two ATP from oxidation of FADH2
 * three ATP at a time for the NADH + H+ produced within the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase reaction, the malate dehydrogenase reaction and the malate decarboxylase reaction.

Due to low glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase activities, in tumor cells the conversion of glutamate to alpha-ketoglutarate mainly takes place via glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase.

Advantages of glutaminolysis in tumor cells

 * Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the plasma and an additional energy source in tumor cells especially when glycolytic energy production is low due to a high amount of the dimeric form of M2-PK.
 * Glutamine and its degradation products glutamate and aspartate are precursors for nucleic acid and serine synthesis.
 * Glutaminolysis is insensitive to high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
 * Due to the truncation of the citric acid cycle the amount of acetyl-CoA infiltrated in the citric acid cycle is low and acetyl-CoA is available for de novo synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol. The fatty acids can be used for phospholipid synthesis or can be released.
 * Fatty acids represent an effective storage vehicle for hydrogen. Therefore, the release of fatty acids is an effective way to get rid of cytosolic hydrogen produced within the glycolytic glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH; EC 1.2.1.9) reaction.
 * Glutamate and fatty acids are immunosuppressive. The release of both metabolites may protect tumor cells from immune attacks.
 * It has been discussed that the glutamate pool may drive the endergonic uptake of other amino acids by system ASC.