Tracking Branched Chain Amino Acid Transferase (BCAT) Activity in Cancer Cells via 13C NMR Spectroscopy

ORAL

Abstract

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique for identifying and tracking biological compounds in a chemical reaction. In studies of cancer, NMR spectroscopy is particularly useful because it has the specificity to identify and monitor specific biochemical changes in the cellular environment. In this work, we have used 13C NMR to investigate the abnormal metabolic activity of glioblastoma or cancerous astrocytes by using 13C-enriched alpha-ketoisocaproate (aKIC) and 13C-alpha-ketoisovalerate (aKIV). The enzyme called branched chain amino acid transferase is overexpressed in these cells and thus, there is an overproduction of leucine from aKIC and valine from aKIV. The metabolic kinetics and potential diagnostic applications of these potential glioblastoma biomarkers will be discussed.

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Presenters

  • Christopher Parish

    University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas, Dallas

Authors

  • Christopher Parish

    University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas, Dallas

  • Peter J Niedbalski

    University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas, Dallas

  • Fatemeh Khashami

    University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas, Dallas

  • Qing Wang

    University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas, Dallas

  • Aya Cloyd

    University of Texas at Dallas

  • Lloyd Lumata

    University of Texas, Dallas, University of Texas at Dallas