Inhibition of glutaminase activity in cancer cells by alkyl benzoquinones results in a deficient nutrient supply (Figure 3E), which leads to i) an AMPK-mediated moderate ULK1 activation; ii) AMPK-mediated phosphorylations on Raptor Ser792 and Tuberin Thr1387 and a PI3K/AKT inhibition mediated dephosphorylation on Tuberin Thr1462, which results in significant mTORC1 inhibition; and ultimately iii) induction of autophagy (Figures 4 & 5). Here, ULK1 is linked to cancer.