ESPResearchers at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) have uncovered a new biological mechanism that exposes a critical vulnerability in tumor cells when they are deprived of vitamin B7. All cells must adjust to changes in nutrient supply to survive. However, some cells become especially reliant on glutamine, an amino acid that plays a major role in metabolism. Glutamine provides essential components needed to build proteins and DNA, and without it, cells cannot continue to grow and divide.
Cancer cells are a prime example. Many tumors exhibit what scientists call "glutamine addiction," meaning they depend heavily on this nutrient. Although this dependency is considered a weakness, many cancers find ways to work around it. In a study published in the journal Molecular Cell, a team led by Alexis Jourdain, assistant professor in the Department of Immunobiology (DIB) at UNIL's Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), sheds new light on the cellular processes behind this adaptability.
Know more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260420014744.htm
