Malignant cells continue to metabolize glucose at a high rate through glycolysis with lactate production even when oxygen is fully available. This observation, exploited clinically in FDG-PET imaging, is best explained by which phenomenon?
- A Pasteur effect
- B Crabtree effect
- C Warburg effect ✓
- D Cori cycle
Correct answer: C. Warburg effect
Explanation
The Warburg effect is aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells: rapid glucose uptake and lactate production despite available oxygen, driven by oncogenic signaling and hypoxia inducible factor, and it underlies fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on PET scanning. The Pasteur effect is the opposite, inhibition of glycolysis by oxygen. The Crabtree effect describes respiration inhibition by high glucose in yeast, and the Cori cycle is hepatic recycling of muscle lactate.
Reference: Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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