Figure 3.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) involved in glucose metabolism. Glucose transporters (GLUTs) mediate glucose entrance into the cells where it is transformed in pyruvate by glycolysis. Hexokinase 2 (HK2) catalyzes the conversion of glucose to glucose 6-phosphate in muscle, while glucokinase catalyzes the same reaction in liver and pancreas. In mitochondria, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) transforms pyruvate in acetil-coenzyme A (CoA) allowing the entrance to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. PDHC activity is controlled by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4). miRNAs targeting GLUTs and enzymes catalyzing glucose metabolism are reported in the red boxes in figure. Red T arrows indicate direct inhibition, while red T dotted arrows indicate indirect inhibition.