Study for the Biochemistry Module 6 Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions; each question includes hints and explanations. Gear up to ace your test!

Multiple Choice

What is the Warburg effect?

The Warburg effect is cancer cells preferring aerobic glycolysis: they convert glucose to lactate even when oxygen is plentiful. This setup allows rapid ATP production and provides building blocks for making nucleotides, lipids, and amino acids needed for fast growth. It also leads to lactate export and can acidify the tumor surroundings, which may aid invasion. Oxidative phosphorylation isn’t shut down, but glycolysis is upregulated regardless of oxygen. The other options describe different metabolic shifts not characteristic of the Warburg effect.

The Warburg effect is cancer cells preferring aerobic glycolysis: they convert glucose to lactate even when oxygen is plentiful. This setup allows rapid ATP production and provides building blocks for making nucleotides, lipids, and amino acids needed for fast growth. It also leads to lactate export and can acidify the tumor surroundings, which may aid invasion. Oxidative phosphorylation isn’t shut down, but glycolysis is upregulated regardless of oxygen. The other options describe different metabolic shifts not characteristic of the Warburg effect.