Award Details:
Award Type: Catalyst
Award #: C-016
Proposal Title: New Molecular Tools to Study Cancer Metabolic Reprogramming
PI(s): Sergey Kozmin (UChicago) and Paul Schumacker (NU)
Award Amount: $200,000.00
Application Cycle: Round 7 (Spring 2009)
Award Start Date: September 1, 2009
Award End Date: August 31, 2011
Abstract:
Cell-permeable small organic molecules are useful for dissecting complex metabolic and signaling networks. Such compounds function by modulating the protein activity directly, providing a complementary approach to the widely employed gene replacement and RNA interference strategies. We propose to develop an arsenal of new small-molecule tools to study altered energy metabolism in cancer. Due to the increased dependency of tumor cells on glycolysis, and its likely role in promoting cell proliferation, survival and invasion, understanding of the nature of reprogrammed energy metabolism in cancer cells is of significant current interest. This study will help in identifying the underlying reasons for major alterations in energy producing pathways employed in rapidly proliferating cells and will test the possibility of targeting such cells selectively both in vitro and in vivo.