Early effects of LPS-induced neuroinflammation on the rat hippocampal glycolytic pathway.

Neuroinflammation is a common feature during the development of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, where glial cells, such as microglia and astrocytes, play key roles in the activation and maintenance of inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. Neuroinflammation is now known to involve a neurometabolic shift, in addition to an increase in energy consumption. We used two approaches (in vivo and ex vivo) to evaluate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation on neurometabolic reprogramming, and on the modulation of the glycolytic pathway during the neuroinflammatory response. For this, we investigated inflammatory cytokines and receptors in the rat hippocampus, as well as markers of glial reactivity. Mitochondrial respirometry and the glycolytic pathway were evaluated by multiple parameters, including enzymatic activity, gene expression and regulation by protein kinases. Metabolic (e.g., metformin, 3PO, oxamic acid, fluorocitrate) and inflammatory (e.g., minocycline, MCC950, arundic acid) inhibitors were used in ex vivo hippocampal slices. The induction of early inflammatory changes by LPS (both in vivo and ex vivo) enhanced glycolytic parameters, such as glucose uptake, PFK1 activity and lactate release. This increased glucose consumption was independent of the energy expenditure for glutamate uptake, which was in fact diverted for the maintenance of the immune response. Accordingly, inhibitors of the glycolytic pathway and Krebs cycle reverted neuroinflammation (reducing IL-1ß and S100B) and the changes in glycolytic parameters induced by LPS in acute hippocampal slices. Moreover, the inhibition of S100B, a protein predominantly synthesized and secreted by astrocytes, inhibition of microglia activation and abrogation of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly confirmed the role of neuroinflammation in the upregulation of glycolysis in the hippocampus. Our data indicate a neurometabolic glycolytic shift, induced by inflammatory activation, as well as a central and integrative role of astrocytes, and suggest that interference in the control of neurometabolism may be a promising strategy for downregulating neuroinflammation and consequently for diminishing negative neurological outcomes.

Highly Potent and Selective N-Aryl Oxamic Acid-Based Inhibitors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase B.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Mtb protein tyrosine phosphatase B (mPTPB) is a virulence factor required for Mtb survival in host macrophages. Consequently, mPTPB represents an exciting target for tuberculosis treatment. Here, we identified N-phenyl oxamic acid as a highly potent and selective monoacid-based phosphotyrosine mimetic for mPTPB inhibition. SAR studies on the initial hit, compound 4 (IC50 = 257 nM), resulted in several highly potent inhibitors with IC50 values lower than 20 nM for mPTPB. Among them, compound 4t showed a Ki of 2.7 nM for mPTPB with over 4500-fold preference over 25 mammalian PTPs. Kinetic, molecular docking, and site-directed mutagenesis analyses confirmed these compounds as active site-directed reversible inhibitors of mPTPB. These inhibitors can reverse the altered host cell immune responses induced by the bacterial phosphatase. Furthermore, the inhibitors possess molecular weights <400 Da, log D7.4 < 2.5, topological polar surface area < 75, ligand efficiency > 0.43, and good aqueous solubility and metabolic stability, thus offering excellent starting points for further therapeutic development.

Deciphering Carbamoylpolyoxamic Acid Biosynthesis Reveals Unusual Acetylation Cycle Associated with Tandem Reduction and Sequential Hydroxylation.

Polyoxin, produced by Streptomcyes cacaoi var. asoensis and Streptomyces aureochromogenes, contains two non-proteinogenic amino acids, carbamoylpolyoxamic acid (CPOAA) and polyoximic acid. Although the CPOAA moiety is highly unusual, its biosynthetic logic has remained enigmatic for decades. Here, we address CPOAA biosynthesis by reconstitution of its pathway. We demonstrated that its biosynthesis is initiated by a versatile N-acetyltransferase, PolN, catalyzing L-glutamate (1) to N-acetyl glutamate (2). Remarkably, we verified that PolM, a previously annotated dehydrogenase, catalyzes an unprecedented tandem reduction of acyl-phosphate to aldehyde, and subsequently to alcohol. We also unveiled a distinctive acetylation cycle catalyzed by PolN to synthesize α-amino-δ-hydroxyvaleric acid (6). Finally, we report that PolL is capable of converting a rare sequential hydroxylation of α-amino-δ-carbamoylhydroxyvaleric acid (7) to CPOAA. PolL represents an intriguing family of Fe(II)-dependent α-ketoglutarate dioxygenase with a cupin fold. These data illustrate several novel enzymatic reactions, and also set a foundation for rational pathway engineering for polyoxin production.

Fermentative production of high titer gluconic and xylonic acids from corn stover feedstock by Gluconobacter oxydans and techno-economic analysis.

High titer gluconic acid and xylonic acid were simultaneously fermented by Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 2003 using corn stover feedstock after dry dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment, biodetoxification and high solids content hydrolysis. Maximum sodium gluconate and xylonate were produced at the titer of 132.46g/L and 38.86g/L with the overall yield of 97.12% from glucose and 90.02% from xylose, respectively. The drawbacks of filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger including weak inhibitor tolerance, large pellet formation and no xylose utilization were solved by using the bacterium strain G. oxydans. The obtained sodium gluconate/xylonate product was highly competitive as cement retarder additive to the commercial product from corn feedstock. The techno-economic analysis (TEA) based on the Aspen Plus modeling was performed and the minimum sodium gluconate/xylonate product selling price (MGSP) was calculated as $0.404/kg. This study provided a practical and economic competitive process of lignocellulose utilization for production of value-added biobased chemicals.

Synthesis and structure of new tetracopper(II) complexes with N-benzoate-N'-[3-(diethylamino)propyl]oxamide as a bridging ligand: The influence of hydrophobicity on enhanced DNA/BSA-binding and anticancer activity.

Two new tetracopper(II) complexes bridged by N-benzoate-N'-[3-(diethylamino)propyl]oxamide (H3bdpox), and ended with 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bpy) or 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), namely [Cu4(bdpox)2(Me2bpy)2](pic)2 (1) and [Cu4(bdpox)2(bpy)2](pic)2·2H2O (2) (where pic denotes the picrate anion) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and other methods. In both complexes, four copper(II) ions are bridged alternately by the cis-oxamido and the carboxylato groups of two bdpox(3-) ligands to form a centrosymmetric cyclic tetranuclear cation, in which, the copper(II) ions at the endo- and exo-sites of cis-bdpox(3-) ligand have square-planar and square-pyramidal coordination geometries, respectively. The reactivity towards DNA/BSA suggests that these complexes can interact with HS-DNA through the intercalation mode and the binding affinity varies as 1>2 depending on the hydrophobicity, and effectively quench the fluorescence of protein BSA via a static mechanism. In vitro anticancer activities showed that the two complexes are active against the selected tumor cell lines, and the anticancer activities are consistent with their DNA-binding affinity.

Testis-Specific Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH-C4) in Skeletal Muscle Enhances a Pika's Sprint-Running Capacity in Hypoxic Environment.

LDH-C4 is a lactate dehydrogenase that catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactate. In mammals, ldh-c was originally thought to be expressed only in testis and spermatozoa. Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), which belongs to the genus Ochotona of the Ochotonidea family, is a hypoxia tolerant mammal living 3000-5000 m above sea level on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, an environment which is strongly hypoxic. Ldh-c is expressed not only in testis and sperm but also in somatic tissues of plateau pika. In this study, the effects of N-propyl oxamate and N-isopropyl oxamate on LDH isozyme kinetics were compared to screens for a selective inhibitor of LDH-C4. To reveal the role and physiological mechanism of LDH-C4 in skeletal muscle of plateau pika, we investigated the effect of N-isopropyl oxamate on the pika exercise tolerance as well as the physiological mechanism. Our results show that Ki of N-propyl oxamate and N-isopropyl oxamate for LDH-A4, LDH-B4, and LDH-C4 were 0.094 mmol/L and 0.462 mmol/L, 0.119 mmol/L and 0.248 mmol/L, and 0.015 mmol/L and 0.013 mmol/L, respectively. N-isopropyl oxamate is a powerful selective inhibitor of plateau pika LDH-C4. In our exercise tolerance experiment, groups treated with inhibitors had significantly lower swimming times than the uninhibited control group. The inhibition rates of LDH, LD, and ATP were 37.12%, 66.27%, and 32.42%, respectively. Our results suggested that ldh-c is expressed in the skeletal muscle of plateau pika, and at least 32.42% of ATP in the skeletal muscle is catalyzed by LDH-C4 by anaerobic glycolysis. This suggests that pika has reduced dependence on oxygen and enhanced adaptation to hypoxic environment due to increased anaerobic glycolysis by LDH-C4 in skeletal muscle. LDH-C4 in plateau pika plays the crucial role in anaerobic glycolysis and generates ATP rapidly since this is the role of LDH-A4 in most species on plain land, which provide evidence that the native humans and animals in Qinghai-Tibet plateau can adapt to the hypoxia environment.

Purification of a recombinant histidine-tagged lactate dehydrogenase from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax, and characterization of its properties.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax (Pv), serves as a drug target and immunodiagnostic marker. The LDH cDNA generated from total RNA of a clinical isolate of the parasite was cloned into pRSETA plasmid. Recombinant his-tagged PvLDH was over-expressed in E. coli Rosetta2DE3pLysS and purified using Ni(2+)-NTA resin giving a yield of 25-30 mg/litre bacterial culture. The recombinant protein was enzymatically active and its catalytic efficiency for pyruvate was 5.4 × 10(8) min(-1) M(-1), 14.5 fold higher than a low yield preparation reported earlier to obtain PvLDH crystal structure. The enzyme activity was inhibited by gossypol and sodium oxamate. The recombinant PvLDH was reactive in lateral flow immunochromatographic assays detecting pan- and vivax-specific LDH. The soluble recombinant PvLDH purified using heterologous expression system can facilitate the generation of vivax LDH-specific monoclonals and the screening of chemical compound libraries for PvLDH inhibitors.

In vitro cytotoxic activities, DNA-, and BSA-binding studies of a new dinuclear copper(II) complex with N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-N'-(2-carboxylatophenyl)-oxamide as ligand.

A new dinuclear copper(II) complex bridged by N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-N'- (2-carbo-xylatophenyl)oxamide (H3 dmapob), and endcapped with 2,2'-diamino-4,4'-bithiazole (dabt), namely [Cu2(dmapob)(dabt)(CH3OH)(pic)]·(DMF)0.75 ·(CH3OH)0.25 has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity measurement, infrared and electronic spectra studies, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the crystal structure, both copper(II) ions have square-pyramidal coordination geometries. The Cu···Cu separation through the oxamido bridge is 5.176(9) Å. A two-dimensional supramolecular framework is formed through hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions. The reactivities toward herring sperm DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) show that the complex can interact with the DNA via intercalation mode and bind to the BSA responsible for quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by the static quenching mechanism. The in vitro anticancer activities suggest that the copper(II) complex is active against the selected tumor cell lines. The influence of different bridging ligands in dinuclear complexes on the DNA- and BSA-binding properties as well as anticancer activities is preliminarily discussed.

Genetic dissection of the polyoxin building block-carbamoylpolyoxamic acid biosynthesis revealing the "pathway redundancy" in metabolic networks.

BACKGROUND: Polyoxin, a peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic, consists of three building blocks including a nucleoside skeleton, polyoximic acid (POIA), and carbamoylpolyoxamic acid (CPOAA), however, little is known about the "pathway redundancy" of the metabolic networks directing the CPOAA biosynthesis in the cell factories of the polyoxin producer. RESULTS: Here we report the genetic characterization of CPOAA biosynthesis with revealing a "pathway redundancy" in metabolic networks. Independent mutation of the four genes (polL-N and polP) directly resulted in the accumulation of polyoxin I, suggesting their positive roles for CPOAA biosynthesis. Moreover, the individual mutant of polN and polP also partially retains polyoxin production, suggesting the existence of the alternative homologs substituting their functional roles. CONCLUSIONS: It is unveiled that argA and argB in L-arginine biosynthetic pathway contributed to the "pathway redundancy", more interestingly, argB in S. cacaoi is indispensible for both polyoxin production and L-arginine biosynthesis. These data should provide an example for the research on the "pathway redundancy" in metabolic networks, and lay a solid foundation for targeted enhancement of polyoxin production with synthetic biology strategies.

Small-molecule inhibitors of human LDH5.

The latest findings on the role played by human LDH5 (hLDH5) in the promotion of glycolysis in invasive tumor cells indicates that this enzyme subtype is a promising therapeutic target for invasive cancer. Compounds able to selectively inhibit hLDH5 hold promise for the cure of neoplastic diseases. hLDH5 has so far been a rather unexplored target, since its importance in the promotion of cancer progression has been neglected for decades. This enzyme should also be considered as a challenging target due the high polar character (mostly cationic) of its ligand cavity. Recently, significant progresses have been reached with small-molecule inhibitors of hLDH5 displaying remarkable potencies and selectivities. This review provides an overview of the newly developed hLDH5 inhibitors. The roles of hLDH isoforms will be briefly discussed, and then the inhibitors will be grouped into chemical classes. Furthermore, general pharmacophore features will be emphasized throughout the structural subgroups analyzed.

Oxamate is an alternative substrate for pyruvate carboxylase from Rhizobium etli.

Oxamate, an isosteric and isoelectronic inhibitory analogue of pyruvate, enhances the rate of enzymatic decarboxylation of oxaloacetate in the carboxyl transferase domain of pyruvate carboxylase (PC). It is unclear, though, how oxamate exerts a stimulatory effect on the enzymatic reaction. Herein, we report direct (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) evidence that oxamate acts as a carboxyl acceptor, forming a carbamylated oxamate product and thereby accelerating the enzymatic decarboxylation reaction. (13)C NMR was used to monitor the PC-catalyzed formation of [4-(13)C]oxaloacetate and subsequent transfer of (13)CO(2) from oxaloacetate to oxamate. In the presence of oxamate, the apparent K(m) for oxaloacetate is artificially suppressed (from 15 to 4-5 µM). Interestingly, the steady-state kinetic analysis of the initial rates determined at varying concentrations of oxaloacetate and fixed concentrations of oxamate revealed initial velocity patterns inconsistent with a simple ping-pong-type mechanism. Rather, the patterns suggest the existence of an alternate decarboxylation pathway in which an unstable intermediate is formed. The steady-state kinetic analysis coupled with the normal (13)(V/K) kinetic isotope effect observed on C-4 of oxaloacetate [(13)(V/K) = 1.0117 ± 0.0005] indicates that the transfer of CO(2) from carboxybiotin to oxamate is the partially rate-limiting step of the enzymatic reaction. The catalytic mechanism proposed for the carboxylation of oxamate is similar to that proposed for the carboxylation of pyruvate, which occurs via the formation of an enol intermediate.

Large scale dynamics of the Michaelis complex in Bacillus stearothermophilus lactate dehydrogenase revealed by a single-tryptophan mutant study.

Large scale dynamics within the Michaelis complex mimic of Bacillus stearothermophilus thermophilic lactate dehydrogenase, bsLDH·NADH·oxamate, were studied with site specific resolution by laser-induced temperature jump relaxation spectroscopy with a time resolution of 20 ns. NADH emission and Trp emission from the wild type and a series of single-tryptophan bsLDH mutants, with the tryptophan positions different distances from the active site, were used as reporters of evolving structure in response to the rapid change in temperature. Several distinct dynamical events were observed on the millisecond to microsecond time scale involving motion of atoms spread over the protein, some occurring concomitantly or nearly concomitantly with structural changes at the active site. This suggests that a large portion of the protein-substrate complex moves in a rather concerted fashion to bring about catalysis. The catalytically important surface loop undergoes two distinct movements, both needed for a competent enzyme. Our results also suggest that what is called "loop motion" is not just localized to the loop and active site residues. Rather, it involves the motion of atoms spread over the protein, even some quite distal from the active site. How these results bear on the catalytic mechanism of bsLDH is discussed.

Does S-metolachlor affect the performance of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP as bioaugmentation bacterium for atrazine-contaminated soils?

Atrazine (ATZ) and S-metolachlor (S-MET) are two herbicides widely used, often as mixtures. The present work examined whether the presence of S-MET affects the ATZ-biodegradation activity of the bioaugmentation bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP in a crop soil. S-MET concentrations were selected for their relevance in worst-case scenarios of soil contamination by a commercial formulation containing both herbicides. At concentrations representative of application of high doses of the formulation (up to 50 µg g(-1) of soil, corresponding to a dose approximately 50× higher than the recommended field dose (RD)), the presence of pure S-MET significantly affected neither bacteria survival (~10(7) initial viable cells g(-1) of soil) nor its ATZ-mineralization activity. Consistently, biodegradation experiments, in larger soil microcosms spiked with 20× or 50 × RD of the double formulation and inoculated with the bacterium, revealed ATZ to be rapidly (in up to 5 days) and extensively (>96%) removed from the soil. During the 5 days, concentration of S-MET decreased moderately to about 60% of the initial, both in inoculated and non-inoculated microcosms. Concomitantly, an accumulation of the two metabolites S-MET ethanesulfonic acid and S-MET oxanilic acid was found. Despite the dissipation of almost all the ATZ from the treated soils, the respective eluates were still highly toxic to an aquatic microalgae species, being as toxic as those from the untreated soil. We suggest that this high toxicity may be due to the S-MET and/or its metabolites remaining in the soil.

Physicobiological properties and biocompatibility of biodegradable poly(oxalate-co-oxamide).

The development of biodegradable and biocompatible materials is the basis for tissue engineering and drug delivery. The aims of this study are to develop the poly(oxalate-co-oxamide) (POXAM) and evaluate its physicochemical properties and biocompatibility as the initial step for the development of new biomaterials. POXAM had a molecular weight of ~70,000 Da and rapidly degraded under physiological condition with a half-hydrolysis of ~4 days. POXAM films exhibited relative hydrophilic nature because of the presence of oxamide linkages and induced a higher cell attachment and proliferation compared with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) films. In vitro inflammatory responses to POXAM were evaluated using murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. POXAM films minimally stimulated the cells to generate less production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) than PLGA films. We assessed the in vivo inflammatory responses to POXAM films implanted in the dorsal skin of rats. Histological studies revealed that POXAM provoked remarkably reduced inflammatory responses, evidenced by the less accumulation of inflammatory cells and giant cells, thinner fibrotic capsules, in comparison with PLGA. Given its excellent biocompatibility, fast degradation, and very mild inflammatory responses, POXAM has great potential for biomedical applications, such as scaffolds, wound dressing, and fast drug delivery.

Differences and similarities in binding of pyruvate and L-lactate in the active site of M4 and H4 isoforms of human lactate dehydrogenase.

We present QM/MM calculations that show differences in geometries of active sites of M(4) and H(4) isoforms of human LDH ligated with oxamate, pyruvate or L-lactate. As the consequence of these differences, binding isotope effects of the methyl hydrogen atoms of pyruvate and l-lactate may be used to experimentally distinguish these isoforms. Based on the FEP calculations we argue that L-lactate is a better candidate for the experimental studies. Our calculations of energies of interactions of ligands with the active site residues provide explanation for the observed experimentally sensitivity to inhibition of the M(4) isoenzyme isoform and pinpoint the differences to interactions of the ligand with the histidine residue. We conclude that pyruvate interacts much stronger in the active site of H(4) than M(4) isoform and that the latter interactions are weaker than with water molecules in the aqueous solution.

A compound QM/MM procedure: comparative performance on a pyruvate formate-lyase model system.

We present an ONIOM(G3:MM) method as an example of a technique capable of producing chemical accuracy in the quantum mechanical (QM) treatment with a molecular mechanical description context. By applying the method to small model systems, in which we are also able to calculate the pure QM G3-type results, it is possible to establish the reliability of the method as it applies to evaluating reaction mechanisms. By choosing small model systems that are relevant to the substrate mechanism of pyruvate formate-lyase, we are also able to discuss the inhibitory effect of oxamate and the relevance of an alternative H-abstraction mechanism in that context.

The development of cement and concrete additive: based on xylonic acid derived via bioconversion of xylose.

The present work attempted to utilize xylose by converting it to an aldonic acid. In the present study, xylose was converted to xylonic acid by using commercial glucose oxidase enzyme, palladium catalysis, and microbial bioconversion. The enzyme conversion was successfully done using a commercial glucose oxidase. The microbial conversion with Gluconobactor oxydans proceeded even with the presence of a large amount of lignosulfonate. Thus obtained xylonic acid products were evaluated as a cement dispersing agent in cement and concrete tests. It was found that xylonic acid is approximately twice as effective as lignosulfonate. Xylonic acid can be effectively utilized in concrete water reducer application.

Trypanocidal activity of N-isopropyl oxamate on cultured epimastigotes and murine trypanosomiasis using different Trypanosoma cruzi strains.

The trypanocidal activity of N-isopropyl oxamate (NIPOx) and the ethyl ester of N-isopropyl oxamate (Et-NIPOx) were tested on cultured epimastigotes (in vitro) and on murine trypanosomiasis (in vivo) using five different T. cruzi strains. When benznidazole and nifurtimox, used for comparison, were tested we found that only three of these T. cruzi strains were affected, whereas the other two strains, Miguz and Compostela, were resistant to the in vitro and the in vivo trypanocidal activity of these substances. In addition, when NIPOx was tested on cultured epimastigotes and on mice parasitaemia, trypanocidal activity was not obtained on either of these T. cruzi strains. Our experiments strongly suggest that NIPOx does not penetrate intact epimastigotes due to the polarity of its carboxylate whereas Et-NIPOx, acting as a prodrug, exhibited in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity in the five tested T. cruzi strains.

An alpha-proteobacterial type malate dehydrogenase may complement LDH function in Plasmodium falciparum. Cloning and biochemical characterization of the enzyme.

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) may be important in carbohydrate and energy metabolism in malarial parasites. The cDNA corresponding to the MDH gene, identified on chromosome 6 of the Plasmodium falciparum genome, was amplified by RT-PCR, cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant Pf MDH was purified to homogeneity and biochemically characterized as an NAD(+)(H)-specific MDH, which catalysed reversible interconversion of malate to oxaloacetate. Pf MDH could not use NADP/NADPH as a cofactor, but used acetylpyridine adenine dinucleoide, an analogue of NAD. The enzyme exhibited strict substrate and cofactor specificity. The highest levels of Pf MDH transcripts were detected in trophozoites while the Pf MDH protein level remained high in trophozoites as well as schizonts. A highly refined model of Pf MDH revealed distinct structural characteristics of substrate and cofactor binding sites and important amino acid residues lining these pockets. The active site amino acid residues involved in substrate binding were conserved in Pf MDH but the N-terminal glycine motif, which is involved in nucleotide binding, was similar to the GXGXXG signature sequence found in Pf LDH and also in alpha-proteobacterial MDHs. Oxamic acid did not inhibit Pf MDH, while gossypol, which interacts at the nucleotide binding site of oxidoreductases and shows antimalarial activity, inhibited Pf MDH also. Treatment of a synchronized culture of P. falciparum trophozoites with gossypol caused induction in expression of Pf MDH, while expression of Pf LDH was reduced and expression of malate:quinone oxidoreductase remained unchanged. Pf MDH may complement Pf LDH function of NAD/NADH coupling in malaria parasites. Thus, dual inhibitors of Pf MDH and Pf LDH may be required to target this pathway and to develop potential new antimalarial drugs.

Hypersensitization of tumor cells to glycolytic inhibitors.

The slow growth of cells in the inner core of solid tumors presents a form of multidrug resistance to most of the standard chemotherapeutic agents, which target the outer more rapidly dividing cells. However, the anaerobic environment of the more centrally located tumor cells also provides an opportunity to exploit their dependence on glycolysis for therapeutic gain. We have developed two in vitro models to investigate this possibility. Model A represents osteosarcoma wild-type (wt) cells treated with agents which inhibit mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (Oxphos) by interacting with complexes I, III, and V of the electron transport chain in different ways, i.e., rhodamine 123 (Rho 123), rotenone, antimycin A, and oligomycin. All of these agents were found to hypersensitize wt cells to the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose. Cells treated with Rho 123 also become hypersensitive to oxamate, an analogue of pyruvate, which blocks the step of glycolysis that converts pyruvate to lactic acid. Model B is rho(0) cells which have lost their mitochondrial DNA and therefore cannot undergo Oxphos. These cells are 10 and 4.9 times more sensitive to 2-deoxyglucose and oxamate, respectively, than wt cells. Lactic acid levels, which are a measure of anaerobic metabolism, were found to be > 3 times higher in rho(0) than in wt cells. Moreover, when wt cells were treated with Rho 123, lactic acid amounts increased as a function of increasing Rho 123 doses. Under similar Rho 123 treatment, rho(0) cells did not increase their lactic acid levels. These data confirm that cell models A and B are similarly sensitive to glycolytic inhibitors due to their dependence on anaerobic metabolism. Overall, our in vitro results suggest that glycolytic inhibitors could be used to specifically target the slow-growing cells of a tumor and thereby increase the efficacy of current chemotherapeutic and irradiation protocols designed to kill rapidly dividing cells. Moreover, glycolytic inhibitors could be particularly useful in combination with anti-angiogenic agents, which, a priori, should make tumors more anaerobic.