Abstract
Pyruvate kinase is a key regulator in glycolysis through the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) into pyruvate. Pyruvate kinase exists in various isoforms that can exhibit diverse biological functions and outcomes. The pyruvate kinase isoenzyme type M2 (PKM2) controls cell progression and survival through the regulation of key signaling pathways. In cancer cells, the dimer form of PKM2 predominates and plays an integral role in cancer metabolism. This predominance of the inactive dimeric form promotes the accumulation of phosphometabolites, allowing cancer cells to engage in high levels of synthetic processing to enhance their proliferative capacity. PKM2 has been recognized for its role in regulating gene expression and transcription factors critical for health and disease. This role enables PKM2 to exert profound regulatory effects that promote cancer cell metabolism, proliferation, and migration. In addition to its role in cancer, PKM2 regulates aspects essential to cellular homeostasis in non-cancer tissues and, in some cases, promotes tissue-specific pathways in health and diseases. In pursuit of understanding the diverse tissue-specific roles of PKM2, investigations targeting tissues such as the kidney, liver, adipose, and pancreas have been conducted. Findings from these studies enhance our understanding of PKM2 functions in various diseases beyond cancer. Therefore, there is substantial interest in PKM2 modulation as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple conditions. Indeed, a vast plethora of research has focused on identifying therapeutic strategies for targeting PKM2. Recently, targeting PKM2 through its regulatory microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) has gathered increasing interest. Thus, the goal of this review is to highlight recent advancements in PKM2 research, with a focus on PKM2 regulatory microRNAs and lncRNAs and their subsequent physiological significance.
Highlights
And in the U.S, cancer remains a leading cause of death and continues to pose one of the most substantial burdens to humanity’s health and wellbeing [1]
MOMP irrevocably commits the cell to apoptosis through a sequence of events that involves the release of several pro-apoptotic proteins from the mitochondria into the cytosol and activates a signaling cascade that leads to apoptosis fun[1c1t5io].nCaelinttyr,arletcoetnhtisscturidtiiceasl fiudnecnttioifineadlitBy,IMrecaenstastcurditiiecsaildmenetdifiiaetdoBrIoMf PasKaMcr2i’tsicanl mti-eadpi-optotic funatcotrioonf.PIKnMH2C’sCanctei-lalsp,oPpKtoMtic2fudnecfiticoienn
The increase in NADPH levels was concomitant with a reduction in oxidized glutathione relative to its reduced form, which further confirms that the beneficial effect of deleting pyruvate kinase isoenzyme type M2 (PKM2) against AKI is mediated by increasing the antioxidant defense capacity [171]
Summary
In the U.S, cancer remains a leading cause of death and continues to pose one of the most substantial burdens to humanity’s health and wellbeing [1]. It is worth noting that out of these metabolic alterations, increased glycolysis remains the main and most extensively studied hallmark of cancer This unique metabolic transformation for producing energy was first observed by Otto Warburg in 1926 [15] and became widely known as the Warburg effect. While other PK isoforms exist in a stable tetrameric configuration, PKM2 may switch between the dimer or tetramer form in response to biological circumstances and metabolic needs [28]. This unique property of PKM2 allows for dynamic metabolic regulation, due in part to the variation in the affinity of the dimer and tetramer configurations of PKM2 to PEP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
