Figure 8

A schematic diagram of possible metabolic network adaptations in survived UM1 and UM2 oral cancer cells after siRNA silencing of TKT or AK2. (A) siRNA silencing of TKT may possibly result in an increased level of glycolysis and oxidative PPP in survived oral cancer cells. Compensation of TKT by TKTL1 may be involved in this metabolic adaptation because TKTL1 compensates the activity of TKT and is linked to increased glucose uptake and lactate production in cancer cells. (B) siRNA silencing of AK2 may lead to high AMP:ATP ratio, possibly activating AMPK and glycolysis.