RB in glutamine metabolism

In a majority of cancer cells, inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) through hyperphosphorylation, deletion, or mutation leads to dissociation from E2F effector proteins and aberrant activation of downstream target genes. Suppression of pRB function ultimately results in the loss of regulatory control over multiple biochemical pathways required for tumorigenesis, including cell cycle control, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Notably, recent studies from numerous groups now are highlighting a functional role for the RB pathway in controlling not only neoplastic immortalization and transformation but also cellular metabolism. Tumor cells predominantly exhibit a metabolic switch towards aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect)