The Regulatory Mechanisms of Lactic Acid and Protein Lactylation Modifications in Cellular Life Activities: A Review of Recent Advances

Zhou Min; Mi Yang

doi:10.23977/medsc.2025.060108

The Regulatory Mechanisms of Lactic Acid and Protein Lactylation Modifications in Cellular Life Activities: A Review of Recent Advances

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DOI: 10.23977/medsc.2025.060108 | Downloads: 16 | Views: 477

Author(s)

Zhou Min ¹, Mi Yang ^1,2

Affiliation(s)

¹ Second Clinical Medical College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Corresponding Author

Mi Yang

ABSTRACT

Historically, lactic acid, as a byproduct of glycolysis, was considered a metabolic waste product in skeletal muscle and energy metabolism. It wasn't until 1920 that scientist Warburg first discovered that even in the presence of oxygen, cells undergo glycolysis when metabolism is heightened, a phenomenon now known as the Warburg effect. The ultimate outcome of this effect is an increase in lactate production both inside and outside of the cell. Recent studies have further confirmed that lactate not only acts as a signaling molecule via G-protein-coupled receptors, but also enters cells through membrane-associated monocarboxylate transporters, where it participates in post-translational modifications of proteins. This regulates metabolism and influences epigenetic mechanisms. This review summarizes the regulatory role of lactylation in cellular metabolism based on previous research.

KEYWORDS

Post-translational modification, lactylation, metabolic regulation, mechanisms, lactate

CITE THIS PAPER

Zhou Min, Mi Yang. The Regulatory Mechanisms of Lactic Acid and Protein Lactylation Modifications in Cellular Life Activities: A Review of Recent Advances. MEDS Clinical Medicine (2025) Vol. 6: 50-56. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medsc.2025.060108.

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The Regulatory Mechanisms of Lactic Acid and Protein Lactylation Modifications in Cellular Life Activities: A Review of Recent Advances

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