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Mechanism of the Crabtree Effect in Cancer Cells

Determine the precise mechanism by which glucose induces transient suppression of respiration (the Crabtree effect) in cancer cells.

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Background

The discussion contrasts the Warburg effect with the Crabtree effect, noting that cancer cells can repress respiration in the presence of glucose. While this phenomenon is recognized, the exact mechanistic basis remains unresolved.

Clarifying the molecular drivers of the Crabtree effect would improve understanding of how cancer cells reprogram energy metabolism under nutrient-replete conditions and therapeutic stress.

References

Additionally, in the presence of glucose, cancer cells can transiently suppress respiration, a phenomenon known as the "Crabtree effect" (Diaz-Ruiz et al., 2011), although its precise mechanism remains unclear.

— Deciphering the Role of Acetate in Metabolic Adaptation and Osimertinib Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (2510.05920 - Maroni et al., 7 Oct 2025) in Section 4, Discussion — Pyruvate, acetaldehyde and acetate: an alternative metabolic route in OsiR cells