title: Overexpression of transketolase-like gene 1 is associated with cell proliferation in uterine cervix cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor cells need large energy and nucleic acids to proliferate and grow. For most of their energy needs, cancer cells depend more on glycolysis. For most of their nucleic acids needs, cancer cells depend more on the nonoxidative pathway of the pentose phosphate pathway. Transketolase(TKT) is a crucial enzyme in the nonoxidative pathway of the PPP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The real-time quantity PCR was used to determine the expression of transketolase gene family in uterine cervix cancer. Transketolase activity of cell was determined by using enzyme-linked method. Cell proliferation was detected by using MTT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TKTL1 mRNA was specifically over-expressed in uterine cervix cancer cells(HeLa cell line) compare with normal human endocervical epithelial cells(End1/E6E7 cell line)(P < 0.05), whereas the expression of TKT and transketolase-like gene 2(TKTL2) have no significant differences between the two cell lines(P > 0.05). Moreover, we found that total transketolase activity was significantly reduced, and cell proliferation was remarkably inhibited after anti-TKTL1 siRNA treatment in HeLa cells. The total transketolase activity and cell proliferation have no significant differences after anti-TKTL1 siRNA treatment in End1/E6E7 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that TKTL1 plays an important role in total transketolase activity and cells proliferation in uterine cervix cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jiefang Dadao Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China. angle.chen03@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Shou-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Rong-Wei
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang