# Alanyl-tRNA synthetase, AARS1, is a lactate sensor and lactyltransferase that lactylates p53 and contributes to tumorigenesis

*PRI Rank #1 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Cancer-related Molecular Pathways Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/cancer-related-molecular-pathways/2026/rank-1*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #1 |
| 18m citations | 272 |
| Journal | Cell |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.002 |
| Corresponding authors | Fangfang Zhou |
| Institution | Soochow University, China |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Cancer-related Molecular Pathways Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/cancer-related-molecular-pathways/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.002](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.002)

## Topics

AARS1 · AARS1 · lactate sensor · lactyltransferase · p53 lactylation · tumorigenesis · lactate metabolism · post-translational modification · Lactylation · tumor microenvironment · metabolic reprogramming · lactate signaling · aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase · non-canonical enzyme function · cancer metabolism

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Cancer-related Molecular Pathways Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/cancer-related-molecular-pathways/2026. Accessed 2026-10-28.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```