A proteomic platform unveils the brain glycogen phosphorylase as a potential metabolic target for glioblastoma multiforme

In the last few years, several efforts have been made to identify original strategies against
glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): this requires a more detailed investigation of the molecular
mechanism of GBM so that novel targets can be identified for new possible therapeutic agents. Here,
using a combined biochemical and proteomic approach, we evaluated the ability of a blood–brain
barrier‐permeable 2,3‐benzodiazepin‐4‐one, called 1g, to interfere with the activity and the
expression of brain glycogen phosphorylase (PYGB) on U87MG cell line in parallel with the
capability of this compound to inhibit the cell growth and cycle. Thus, our results highlighted PYGB
as a potential therapeutic target in GBM prompting 1g as a capable anticancer drug thanks to its
ability to negatively modulate the uptake and metabolism of glucose, the so‐called “Warburg
effect”, whose increase is considered a common feature of cancer cells in respect of their normal
counterparts