Development of cancer therapeutic agents targeting choline transporter

胆碱是合成主要膜磷脂磷脂酰胆碱和神经递质乙酰胆碱所必需的。在癌细胞中检测到胆碱水平升高和胆碱激酶活性上调。我们发现胆碱转运蛋白（CTLs）在多种癌细胞中高度表达，并参与异常增殖。此外，ctl的功能抑制可促进凋亡细胞的死亡。这种新的ctl介导的胆碱运输系统的鉴定为治疗干预提供了一个潜在的新靶点。

Choline is essential for the synthesis of major membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine and neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Elevated levels of choline and up-regulated choline kinase activity have been detected in cancer cells. We found that choline transporter-like proteins (CTLs) are highly expressed in various cancer cells and are also involved in abnormal proliferation. Furthermore, the functional inhibition of CTLs could promote apoptotic cell death. Identification of this new CTLs-mediated choline transport system provides a potential new target for therapeutic intervention.