Figure 8.

Model for ATG12 dependence during hypoxia. During normal oxygenation and sufficient glucose abundance, glucose is used as the preferred carbon source. Areas that receive insufficient oxygen are also hampered in glucose delivery and are therefore more reliant on glutamine metabolism as carbon source. ATG12 proficient cells are capable of maintaining high intracellular glutamine levels and maintain a viable radiotherapy-resistant hypoxic fraction. ATG12-deficient cells cannot maintain high intracellular glutamine during hypoxia, resulting in hypoxic cell death, decreased tumor hypoxia and improved prognosis after therapy.