Emily Parks

May 20, 2024 | nature.com | Emily Parks |Jiwoong Kim |Andrew Lemoff |Lin Xu |Jerry W. Shay |Ralph J. DeBerardinis | +1 more

AbstractCancer cells exhibit distinct metabolic activities and nutritional dependencies compared to normal cells. Thus, characterization of nutrient demands by individual tumor types may identify specific vulnerabilities that can be manipulated to target the destruction of cancer cells. We find that MYC-driven liver tumors rely on augmented tryptophan (Trp) uptake, yet Trp utilization to generate metabolites in the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway is reduced.