Figure 3.

Representation of lipid metabolism. Rewiring of lipid metabolism including increased lipid uptake, lipid desaturation, de novo lipogenesis, lipolysis and FAO is necessary for supply GCSCs with energy. Extracellular FFAs are transported into cells and catabolized in mitochondria to produce acetyl-CoA which is converted in citrate and it enters in TCA cycle for the oxidation. Alternatively, de novo fatty acids synthesis begins with acetyl-CoA that is converted in malonyl-CoA and then in palmitate. Lipid catabolism can even occur through fatty acids esterification that allow them to be stored as triglycerides in lipid droplets. In addition, saturated fatty acids can also be converted into mono-unsaturated fatty acids by SCD1, an enzyme upregulated in gastric cancer. ACC, acetyl-CoA carboxylase; ACYL, ATP citrate lyase; FASN, fatty acid synthase; MUFAs, mono-unsaturated fatty acids; SCD1, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1; CPT1, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1; TCA, cycle, tricarboxylic acid cycle; LD, lipid droplet.