Marta Vescovi

Mrs. Marta Vescovi

bicocca

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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16 November 2020 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FTFarida Tripodi
Farida Tripodi
BBBeatrice Badone
Beatrice Badone
MVMarta Vescovi
Marta Vescovi
RMRiccardo Milanesi
Riccardo Milanesi
SNSimona Nonnis
Simona Nonnis
Paola CoccettiPaola Coccetti
Paola Coccetti
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancer worldwide with a high mortality. Methionine is an essential amino acid required for normal development and cell growth, is mainly metabolized in the liver, and its role as an anti-cancer supplement is still controversial. Here, we evaluate the effects of methionine supplementation in liver cancer cells. An integrative proteomic and metabolomic analysis indicates a rewiring of the central carbon metabolism, with an upregulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the presence of high methionine and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibition. Methionine supplementation also reduces growth rate in liver cancer cells and induces the activation of both the AMPK and mTOR pathways. Interestingly, in high methionine concentration, inhibition of AMPK strongly impairs cell growth, cell migration, and colony formation, indicating the main role of AMPK in the control of liver cancer phenotypes. Therefore, regulation of methionine in the diet combined with AMPK inhibition could reduce liver cancer progression.