The pentose phosphate pathway is aberrantly activated in cancer cells but the mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors show that G6PD, the rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway, is post-translationally modified with a sugar moiety under hypoxic conditions leading to increased production of precursors for macromolecular synthesis and antioxidants.
- Xiongjian Rao
- Xiaotao Duan
- Wen Yi