13C NMR Spectroscopic Analysis of Glycolytic, PPP, and TCA Cycle Dysregulation in Renal Cancer Cells

Glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle are crucial metabolic pathways responsible for energy production, biosynthesis, and maintaining cellular redox balance. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and is vital for generating energy and metabolic intermediates. The PPP, which branches from glycolysis, also takes place in the cytoplasm and produces NADPH for anabolic reactions. The TCA cycle, localized in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, facilitates nutrient-derived energy extraction and provides intermediates for biosynthesis. In renal cancers, these metabolic pathways are often disrupted, with glycolysis becoming dysregulated, PPP activity altered, and TCA cycle function impaired. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to investigate lactate production from glycolysis and PPP activity in Caki-1 and 786-O renal cancer cell lines using [1,2-13C] glucose, as well as TCA cycle dynamics using [1,4-13C] aspartic acid. Preliminary results will be presented here.