PKM2 knockdown influences SREBP activation and lipid synthesis in bovine mammary-gland epithelial MAC-T cells

The purpose of the article is to evaluate the changes in lipid metabolism in bovine mammary-gland epithelial MAC-T cells after PKM2 knockdown. MAC-T cells stably expressing low levels of PKM2 were established with lentivirus-mediated small hairpin RNA. Although the knockdown of PKM2 had no effect on MAC-T cell growth, the reduced expression of PKM2 attenuated the mRNA and protein expression of key enzymes involved in sterol synthesis through the SREBP pathway. The downregulation of PKM2 significantly influenced lipid synthesis in bovine mammary-gland epithelial MAC-T cells. These findings extend our understanding of the crosstalk between glycolysis and lipid metabolism in bovine mammary-gland epithelial cells.