title: The Xenopus oocyte: a model for studying the metabolic regulation of cancer cell death.
abstract: Abnormal metabolism and the evasion of apoptosis are both considered hallmarks of cancer. A remarkable biochemical model system, the Xenopus laevis oocyte, exhibits altered metabolism coupled to its apoptotic machinery in a similar fashion to cancer cells. This review considers the theory that these two hallmarks of cancer are coupled in tumor cells and provides strong proof that the Xenopus laevis oocyte system is an appropriate model in which to dissect the biochemical events underlying the connection between the two hallmarks. By further elucidating the mechanisms through which metabolism suppresses apoptotic machinery, we may gain a better understanding about how normal cells transform into cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, MS 340, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. Leta.Nutt@STJUDE.ORG
authors.forename: Leta K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Nutt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine