GC1qR Cleavage by Caspase-1 Drives Aerobic Glycolysis in Tumor Cells.

Self-sustained cell proliferation constitutes one hallmark of cancer enabled by aerobic glycolysis which is characterized by imbalanced glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) activity, named the Warburg effect. The C1q binding protein (; gC1qR) is pivotal for mitochondrial protein translation and thus OXPHOS activity. Due to its fundamental role in balancing OXPHOS and glycolysis, mice display embryonic lethality, while gC1qR is excessively up-regulated in cancer.