Lactate Metabolism

PromoCell supplies a range of simple, convenient and sensitive assays to study the lactate metabolism and support screening for LDH-targeted anti-cancer drugs.

In addition, we also offer a variety of fine chemicals/biochemicals such as inhibitors and activators that can be used with the respective assays as well as antibodies and other useful products for cellular analysis.

Glycolysis in the cytoplasm produces the intermediate metabolite pyruvate. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA to enter the TCA or Krebs cycle. Under anaerobic conditions (anaerobic glycolysis), pyruvate is converted by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to lactic acid. Thus, when the supply of oxygen is insufficient, lactate is produced to provide the required energy/ATP via an anaerobic metabolic pathway.

The lactic acid cycle (also known as Cori cycle), is a metabolic pathway in which lactate is produced in muscles, transported to the liver and converted to glucose (gluconeogenesis), which then returns to the muscles and is metabolized back to lactate. Lactate plays an important role in muscle glycogen production and on causing muscle fatigue. It also serves as a major circulating carbohydrate fuel and lactate production increases when there is an increased demand for ATP but limited oxygen supply.

Lactate, once considered a dead-end waste product of glycolysis, has recently been associated with diverse metabolic and regulatory properties. It has, for example, emerged as a critical regulator of cancer development, maintenance, and metastasis. Lactate can be implicated in the development and growth of cancer, both by providing additional energy for cell growth and proliferation and by helping to create an acidic environment that is conducive to the spread of cancer cells. It also plays a role in promoting tumor inflammation and in stimulating tumor angiogenesis.

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