Lithium detaches hexokinase from mitochondria and inhibits proliferation of B16 melanoma cells.
Glycolysis is known to be the primary energy source in cancer cells. Hexokinase (ATP: D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1), the only glycolytic enzyme which binds to mitochondria, is exceptionally high in cancer cells, and believed to play a key role in regulating cell energy metabolism and cancer cell growth rate. We show here that lithium induces a detachment of hexokinase from mitochondria of B16 melanoma cells. This effect eventually leads to inhibition of cell proliferation. These results reveal a novel, additional, mechanism of action of lithium and suggest that lithium may be promising drug in treatment of melanoma.
Penso
Julia
J
Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel.
Beitner
Rivka
R
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D008094:Lithium; D006593:Hexokinase; D018021:Lithium Chloride