GNPS - Butyrate Suppresses Proliferation of Colon Cancer Cells via Targeting Pyruvate Kinase M2 and Metabolic Reprogramming

How butyrate interrupts the metabolism of cancer cells and leads to the suppression of cell proliferation remains unclear. We employed a metabolomics-proteomics combined approach to explore the link between butyrate-mediated proliferation arrest and cell metabolism. Metabolomics study revealed a remodeled metabolic profile with pronounced accumulation of pyruvate. A proteomics-based approach reveals PKM2 as a direct target of butyrate. it activates PKM2 via promoting its dephosphorylation and tetramerization.Our study provides a mechanistic link between PKM2-induced metabolic remodeling and the anti-tumorigenic function of butyrate.