| dc.description.abstract | Glutamine plays a crucial role in cancer cells. As a nonessential amino acid, its demand in tumor cells far exceeds that in normal cells. In cancer cells, glutamine is primarily metabolized through the glutaminolysis pathway, converting into glutamate and ammonia, further synthesizing α-ketoglutarate and entering the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, thereby providing energy and metabolic intermediates necessary for the rapid growth and proliferation of tumor cells. In the tumor microenvironment, due to the extensive consumption by cancer cells, glutamine often becomes depleted. This state of depletion significantly affects the production and function of exosomes. Studies have shown that glutamine depletion can increase the number of cancer exosomes released by Rab11-positive recycling endosomes, which carry molecules that can affect other cells in the tumor microenvironment and help the tumor adapt to metabolic stress. Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles released by cells, ranging in size from 30 to 150 nm and rich in proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Particularly, the role of RNA molecules within exosomes is crucial; they can be transferred to other cells in the tumor microenvironment, thus promoting tumor growth and disease spread. Recent studies using sequencing technologies, such as the nanopore sequencing and the NGS Illumina platforms, have further explored the RNA composition, leading to a better understanding of biological mechanisms of exosomes. These advanced sequencing techniques not only provide a comprehensive observation of the types and abundance of RNA within exosomes but also enable researchers to identify specific RNA molecules′ roles in cancer progression. Due to the insufficient research on the relationship between glutamine deprivation and cancer progression, this study utilizes nanopore sequencing and NGS sequencing to investigate the RNA composition of exosomes under glutamine deprivation. This study found that the RNA composition of exosomes secreted by colorectal cancer HCT116 cells differs between normal glutamine conditions and glutamine deprivation. Importantly, using the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis we found that the protein products of these differentially expressed RNAs are primarily involved in the RAS, PI3K-AKT, and Rap1 signaling pathways, which are often associated with cancer progression. Therefore, this study enhances our understanding of the functions of exosomes induced by glutamine deprivation. We hope that these findings will not only advance the understanding of tumor biology but also provide potential avenues for developing new cancer treatment strategies. | en_US |