Mechanisms discovered to drive increased glucose metabolism in cancer cells are found to be similar to those in viral-infected cells. In this mini review, we summarize the major pathways by which the sugar analog, 2-Deoxy-d-glucose, has been shown to exploit increased glucose metabolism in cancer and how this information applies to viral-infected cells. Moreover, we highlight the relevance of these findings to the emergency approval of 2-Deoxy-d-glucose in India to be used against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
Keywords: 2-deoxy-d-glucose or 2-DG; ER stress; SARS-CoV-2; cancer; cellular glucose metabolism; glycolysis; viruses.
© 2021 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.