Sperm-Specific Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase and Energy Metabolism in Melanoma Cells

Cancer-testis antigens are expressed in the germ cells of the testes, but can also be produced in some types of cancer cells, thus representing an important protein group in oncoimmunology. They include sperm-specific proteins of glycolysis, in particular, sperm-specific isoform of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDHS). This isoform differs from somatic isoform in a number of properties. Normally expressed in spermatids, GAPDHS is also found in uveal and skin melanoma cells. Because GAPDHS is a glycolytic protein and glycolysis is a key component of energy metabolism in a growing tumor, the review summarizes the data on the functional and structural features of GAPDHS and its role in the regulation of glycolysis in melanoma cells.