Fig. 1.

Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations reprogram glutamine metabolism by up-regulating GPT2. As a fuel source, glutamine is first converted to glutamate and then α-KG to replenish the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Oncogenic p110α mutant protein reprograms glutamine metabolism through upregulation of GPT2. A pan-aminotransferase inhibitor AOA suppresses xenograft tumor growth of PIK3CA mutant, but not wild type (WT), CRCs. GLS: glutaminase; GPT2: glutamate pyruvate transaminase 2; α-KG: α-ketoglutarate; AOA: aminooxyacetate.