SummaryPyruvate kinase type M2 (PKM2) has been reported to be involved in aerobic glycolysis and cell growth in various tumors. However, the expression pattern of PKM2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the correlation between PKM2 expression and CRC remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate PKM2 expression and its possible role in CRC. We found that expression of PKM2 was increased in CRC and the increased PKM2 expression was associated with later stage and lymph metastasis of the tumors. Knockdown of PKM2 suppressed the aerobic glycolysis and decreased lactate production of colon cancer RKO cells. Knockdown of PKM2 repressed proliferation and migration of the cells. Inhibition of PKM2 suppressed xenograft tumor growth of RKO cells in vivo. These results suggest that the expression of PKM2 plays a critical role in development of CRC, and it may provide a growth advantage for colon cancer cells. Thus, PKM2 might be a potential therapeutic target for CRC.2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 64(9): 775-782, 2012

Muscle atrophy F-Box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle ring-finger-1 (MuRF-1) have been identified as two muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases that are highly expressed in skeletal muscle during muscle atrophy. However, the role of muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases during the process of muscle atrophy of cancer cachexia remains largely unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 in the skeletal muscle of patients with malignant and benign disease. The possible mechanisms were studied both in a colon 26-induced cancer cachexia mouse model and in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced atrophy C2C12 cells. Our results demonstrated that atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 tended to be increased in the skeletal muscle of patients with malignant disease even before weight loss. Non-tumor body weights and gastrocnemius weights were significantly decreased while expression levels of ubiquitin proteasome pathway associated genes (atrogin-1, MuRF-1, ubiquitin and E2-14K) were upregulated in cancer cachexia mice. Significant myotube atrophy with atrogin-1 overexpression was observed in the C2C12 cells treated with TNF-α. Meanwhile, knockdown of atrogin-1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) protected C2C12 cells from the adverse effect of TNF-α. In conclusion, muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases were upregulated during cancer cachexia, and atrogin-1 may be a potential molecular target for treating muscle atrophy induced by cancer cachexia.