Roles of long noncoding RNAs in tumor metabolism

Abstract

Compared to normal cells, tumor cells exhibit distinct metabolic features, including increased glucose uptake, aerobic glycolysis, enhanced glutamine uptake and glutaminolysis, altered lipid metabolism, and so on. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)are defined as a large class of regulatory RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides, with limited or no protein-coding potential, which play key roles in tumorigenesis and progression. LncRNA can affect tumor metabolism by mutual regulation with oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Additionally, the interaction of lncRNA with crucial transcription factors, metabolic enzymes or miRNA can also effectively modulate the processes of tumor metabolism. In this review, we will focus on the most recent development on the lncRNA in regulating glucose, glutamine and lipid metabolism for tumor cells. Key words: Long non-coding RNA; Tumor metabolism; Glucose metabolism; Lipid metabolism; Glutamine metabolism