How a Childhood Brain Tumor Hijacks Lactate to Build DNA (And How We Can Watch It Happen)
Researchers discovered that the H3K27M mutation in deadly childhood brain tumors drives excessive lactate production, which directly activates DNA synthesis machinery through lactylation of the enzyme NME1. This finding enabled development of a deuterium-based MRI technique that can visualize tumor metabolism at clinical field strength and detect treatment response early—potentially transforming how we monitor these aggressive cancers.
diffuse midline glioma
H3K27M mutation
lactate metabolism
lactylation