Thesis title: Alteration of metabolic pathways in tumours
This thesis aimed to functionally characterise deregulated metabolic genes and proteins in tumour tissues, with a focus on RNA-binding proteins and the glycolytic enzyme PGK1. Motivated by the growing recognition of metabolic rewiring as a hallmark of cancer, the study addressed gaps in understanding the role of RNA-binding proteins in metabolic regulation. PGK1, newly identified as an RNA-binding protein, was investigated for its potential contribution to tumour progression and therapeutic relevance.
An integrated computational and experimental approach was used. Omics data from PCAWG, GTEx, and CPTAC were analysed to identify alterated metabolic regulators. PGK1 was further examined for predicted RNA interactions. In vitro experiments involved expression and purification of wild-type and PGK1 variants to assess RNA-binding activity and the impact of tumour-specific mutations, with subsequent affinity chromatography experiments.
This multi-layered strategy provided new insights into the molecular functions of metabolic regulators in cancer and highlighted PGK1’s potential role in tumour biology.