Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2022; 14(4): 267-286
Published online Apr 26, 2022. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i4.267
Table 1 Summary of the role and mechanism of amino acid metabolism in cancer stem cells
Amino acid metabolism
Possible mechanisms in CSCs
Role in CSC properties
Methionine metabolismDirect nutrients; Genetic modification; DNA biosynthesis Self-renewal; tumorigenicity
Tryptophan metabolismImmune escape and resistance; regulates stem genes and signal pathwaySelf-renewal; survival
Threonine metabolismUpregulated in colon CSCs (HCT116), but mechanism is unknownSelf-renewal
Lysine metabolismReduces ROS and activates Wnt pathwaySelf-renewal
Leucine metabolismRegulates CD13+ CSCs survival in hepatocellular carcinoma, but mechanism is unknown; Inhibits stemness and growth of EpCAM+ hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells by activating MTORC1Stemness; survival
Valine metabolismRegulates CD13+ CSCs survival in hepatocellular carcinoma, but mechanism is unknownsurvival
Phenylalanine metabolismUnknown Unknown
Isoleucine metabolismInhibits stemness and growth of EpCAM+ hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells by activating MTORC1Stemness
Histidine metabolismUnknown Unknown
Glycine metabolismDirect nutrients within a certain range; epigenetic modification; DNA synthesis; regulates redox homeostasis; carries out TCA cycleSelf-renewal; survival; tumorigenicity; metastasis
Serine metabolismRegulates redox homeostasis; shunts glucose metabolism; carries out TCA cycle; influences T cell proliferationSelf-renewal; survival; tumorigenicity; stemness; metastasis; resistance
Glutamine metabolismDirect nutrients; carries out TCA cycle; synthesis of nucleic acids; maintains redox balance; regulates tumor immunitySelf-renewal; survival; tumorigenicity; stemness; resistance
Glutamate metabolismCarries out TCA cycle; participates serine metabolism; maintains redox balanceSelf-renewal; survival; tumorigenicity; stemness
Cysteine metabolismMainly maintains redox balanceSelf-renewal; survival; tumorigenicity; resistance; metastasis
Aspartate metabolismReplenishes TCA cycle; synthesis of nucleic acidsSurvival
Asparagine metabolismReplenishes TCA cycle; synthesis of nucleic acids; exchanges amino acidsSurvival
Alanine metabolismUpregulated in breast CSCs, but mechanism is unknown; regulates T cell functionSelf-renewal;stemness; tumorigenicity
Arginine metabolismParticipates in cell proliferation and urea cycle; regulates tumor immunitySelf-renewal
Proline metabolismMaybe epigenetic modification and transform steadily; synthesize collagenSelf-renewal; stemness; metastasis
Tyrosine metabolismProvides energy; Foxd3 acetylationSelf-renewal