Glutamine, gene expression, and cell function.
Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the body and is known to play a regulatory role at the gene and protein level in several cell specific processes including metabolism (e.g. oxidative fuel, gluconeogenic precursor and lipogenic precursor), cell integrity (survival, cell proliferation), protein synthesis and degradation, redox potential, respiratory burst, insulin resistance, insulin secretion and extracellular matrix synthesis. Glutamine has been shown to regulate the expression of many genes related to metabolism, signal transduction, cell defense and repair and to activate intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, the function of glutamine goes beyond that of a simple metabolic fuel or protein precursor as previously assumed. In this review, we have attempted to identify some of the common mechanisms underlying glutamine dependent changes in gene and protein expression and cellular function.
Curi
Rui
R
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. ruicuri@icb.usp.br
Newsholme
Philip
P
Procopio
Joaquim
J
Lagranha
Cláudia
C
Gorjão
Renata
R
Pithon-Curi
Tânia Cristina
TC
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D007328:Insulin; D011506:Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005973:Glutamine