Nature Metabolism, Published online: 07 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s42255-026-01511-1In this issue of Nature Metabolism, Brain, Vigil et al. show that NRF2-induced cystine uptake drives the formation of several cysteine–sugar metabolites. This process acts as a ‘sink’ for free cysteine and can lead to metabolic vulnerabilities and toxicity in NRF2-activated tumours.
