alpha-methyl-L-tryptophan

α-MLT (alpha-methyl-L-tryptophan) is a small molecule inhibitor of the amino acid transporter SLC6A14, also known as ATB(0,+). SLC6A14 is a broad-specificity, sodium- and chloride-coupled transporter that mediates the uptake of all essential amino acids, as well as glutamine and asparagine. It is frequently overexpressed in various cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), colorectal cancer, and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, to support the high metabolic and nutritional demands of rapidly proliferating cells. By competitively inhibiting SLC6A14, α-MLT induces intracellular amino acid deprivation and nutrient stress, which leads to the attenuation of tumor growth and reduced cell viability. Research has demonstrated that the anticancer efficacy of α-MLT can be significantly enhanced when combined with inhibitors of autophagy or macropinocytosis, such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which prevents cancer cells from utilizing alternative nutrient scavenging pathways to survive the metabolic stress induced by SLC6A14 blockade.

Other names

alpha-methyltryptophan2-methyl-L-tryptophanDL-alpha-methyltryptophan