Fig. 1
From: Arginine deprivation: a potential therapeutic for cancer cell metastasis? A review
Effect of arginine on migration and invasion. The utilization of l-arginine by NOS produces l-citrulline and nitric oxide. The latter promotes cell migration and activates the focal adhesion kinases (FAKS). Activated FAKs induce the internalization of integrins. l-arginine is also metabolized by Arginase 1 to produce l-ornithine with is in turn utilized by ODS to produce polyamines. Polyamines stimulates the activation of the small Rho GTPases RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42. l-arginine increases the expression of MMPs, which results in an increased matrix degradation and invasion