FIGURE 1.

Outline of the basic metabolic pathway of glucose. The molecule is imported inside the cells and depending on the metabolic status might be used either for the synthesis of nitrogen bases through the pentose phosphate pathway or converted to trioses and from there to pyruvate. The last metabolite may either feed mitochondria or be converted to lactate and secreted in the extracellular medium. High rate of pyruvate conversion to lactate despite the presence of oxygen is called the “Warburg effect.” For some of the metabolites depicted in the figure, existing fluorescent reporters are described in the main text. Those metabolites are embedded in a light green frame. (Figure prepared by modifying a Biorender.com template).