101
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Abstract
Metastases arising from tumors have the proclivity to colonize specific organs, suggesting that they must rewire their biology to meet the demands of the organ colonized, thus altering their primary properties. Each metastatic site presents distinct metabolic challenges to a colonizing cancer cell, ranging from fuel and oxygen availability to oxidative stress. Here, we discuss the organ-specific metabolic adaptations that cancer cells must undergo, which provide the ability to overcome the unique barriers to colonization in foreign tissues and establish the metastatic tissue tropism phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Schild
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vivien Low
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Blenis
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ana P Gomes
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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102
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Huang Q, Stalnecker C, Zhang C, McDermott LA, Iyer P, O'Neill J, Reimer S, Cerione RA, Katt WP. Characterization of the interactions of potent allosteric inhibitors with glutaminase C, a key enzyme in cancer cell glutamine metabolism. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:3535-3545. [PMID: 29317493 PMCID: PMC5846160 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.810101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered glycolytic flux in cancer cells (the "Warburg effect") causes their proliferation to rely upon elevated glutamine metabolism ("glutamine addiction"). This requirement is met by the overexpression of glutaminase C (GAC), which catalyzes the first step in glutamine metabolism and therefore represents a potential therapeutic target. The small molecule CB-839 was reported to be more potent than other allosteric GAC inhibitors, including the parent compound bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl (BPTES), and is in clinical trials. Recently, we described the synthesis of BPTES analogs having distinct saturated heterocyclic cores as a replacement for the flexible chain moiety, with improved microsomal stability relative to CB-839 and BPTES. Here, we show that one of these new compounds, UPGL00004, like CB-839, more potently inhibits the enzymatic activity of GAC, compared with BPTES. We also compare the abilities of UPGL00004, CB-839, and BPTES to directly bind to recombinant GAC and demonstrate that UPGL00004 has a similar binding affinity as CB-839 for GAC. We also show that UPGL00004 potently inhibits the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells, as well as tumor growth when combined with the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab. Finally, we compare the X-ray crystal structures for UPGL00004 and CB-839 bound to GAC, verifying that UPGL00004 occupies the same binding site as CB-839 or BPTES and that all three inhibitors regulate the enzymatic activity of GAC via a similar allosteric mechanism. These results provide insights regarding the potency of these inhibitors that will be useful in designing novel small-molecules that target a key enzyme in cancer cell metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqiu Huang
- From the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and
| | | | - Chengliang Zhang
- Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 and
| | - Lee A. McDermott
- the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and ,Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Prema Iyer
- the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and ,Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | | | | | - Richard A. Cerione
- From the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and ,Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and ,Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 and , To whom correspondence should be addressed:
Dept. of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6401. Tel:
607-253-3888; Fax:
607-253-3659; E-mail:
| | - William P. Katt
- Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 and
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103
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Han T, Zhan W, Gan M, Liu F, Yu B, Chin YE, Wang JB. Phosphorylation of glutaminase by PKCε is essential for its enzymatic activity and critically contributes to tumorigenesis. Cell Res 2018. [PMID: 29515166 PMCID: PMC5993826 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-018-0021-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamine metabolism plays an important role in cancer development and progression. Glutaminase C (GAC), the first enzyme in glutaminolysis, has emerged as an important target for cancer therapy and many studies have focused on the mechanism of enhanced GAC expression in cancer cells. However, little is known about the post-translational modification of GAC. Here, we report that phosphorylation is a crucial post-translational modification of GAC, which is responsible for the higher glutaminase activity in lung tumor tissues and cancer cells. We identify the key Ser314 phosphorylation site on GAC that is regulated by the NF-κB-PKCε axis. Blocking Ser314 phosphorylation by the S314A mutation in lung cancer cells inhibits the glutaminase activity, triggers genetic reprogramming, and alleviates tumor malignancy. Furthermore, we find that a high level of GAC phosphorylation correlates with poor survival rate of lung cancer patients. These findings highlight a previously unappreciated mechanism for activation of GAC by phosphorylation and demonstrate that targeting glutaminase activity can inhibit oncogenic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Han
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330031, China.,School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330031, China
| | - Weihua Zhan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330031, China.,School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330031, China
| | - Mingxi Gan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330031, China
| | - Fanrong Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330006, China
| | - Bentong Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330006, China
| | - Y Eugene Chin
- Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences at Shanghai, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jian-Bin Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330031, China.
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104
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A novel glutaminase inhibitor-968 inhibits the migration and proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting EGFR/ERK signaling pathway. Oncotarget 2018; 8:28063-28073. [PMID: 28039459 PMCID: PMC5438631 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is critical for cancer cell proliferation. Glutaminolysis which provides cancer cells with bioenergetics and intermediates for macromolecular synthesis have been intensively studied in recent years. Glutaminase C (GAC) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in glutaminolysis and plays important roles in cancer initiation and progression. We previously screened a small molecule named 968, a specific inhibitor of GAC, to block the proliferation of human breast cancer cells. In this study, we found that 968 effectively inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and migration and arrested G0/G1 phase of cell cycle. Furthermore, we demonstrated that 968 inhibited the EGFR/ERK pathway via decreasing the expression of EGFR and phospho-ERK. Apart from this, we discovered that 968 treatment induced autophagy to protect cells against apoptosis and the combination of 968 with autophagy inhibitor Chloroquine (CQ) had synergistic effects on the growth of NSCLC cells. Thus, our study pointed out a new therapeutic strategy for NSCLC treatment by combination of 968 with CQ.
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105
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Rohlenova K, Veys K, Miranda-Santos I, De Bock K, Carmeliet P. Endothelial Cell Metabolism in Health and Disease. Trends Cell Biol 2018; 28:224-236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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106
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Wright Muelas M, Ortega F, Breitling R, Bendtsen C, Westerhoff HV. Rational cell culture optimization enhances experimental reproducibility in cancer cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3029. [PMID: 29445172 PMCID: PMC5813001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21050-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Optimization of experimental conditions is critical in ensuring robust experimental reproducibility. Through detailed metabolomic analysis we found that cell culture conditions significantly impacted on glutaminase (GLS1) sensitivity resulting in variable sensitivity and irreproducibility in data. Baseline metabolite profiling highlighted that untreated cells underwent significant changes in metabolic status. Both the extracellular levels of glutamine and lactate and the intracellular levels of multiple metabolites changed drastically during the assay. We show that these changes compromise the robustness of the assay and make it difficult to reproduce. We discuss the implications of the cells' metabolic environment when studying the effects of perturbations to cell function by any type of inhibitor. We then devised 'metabolically rationalized standard' assay conditions, in which glutaminase-1 inhibition reduced glutamine metabolism differently in both cell lines assayed, and decreased the proliferation of one of them. The adoption of optimized conditions such as the ones described here should lead to an improvement in reproducibility and help eliminate false negatives as well as false positives in these assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Wright Muelas
- Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Doctoral Training Centre, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
- Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Fernando Ortega
- Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Claus Bendtsen
- Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hans V Westerhoff
- Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Doctoral Training Centre, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
- Netherlands Institute for Systems Biology, VU University Amsterdam and University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
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107
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Fazzari J, Linher-Melville K, Singh G. Tumour-Derived Glutamate: Linking Aberrant Cancer Cell Metabolism to Peripheral Sensory Pain Pathways. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 15:620-636. [PMID: 27157265 PMCID: PMC5543678 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x14666160509123042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic pain is a major symptom that develops in cancer patients, most commonly emerging during advanced stages of the disease. The nature of cancer-induced pain is complex, and the efficacy of current therapeutic interventions is restricted by the dose-limiting side-effects that accompany common centrally targeted analgesics. Methods This review focuses on how up-regulated glutamate production and export by the tumour converge at peripheral afferent nerve terminals to transmit nociceptive signals through the transient receptor cation channel, TRPV1, thereby initiating central sensitization in response to peripheral disease-mediated stimuli. Results Cancer cells undergo numerous metabolic changes that include increased glutamine catabolism and over-expression of enzymes involved in glutaminolysis, including glutaminase. This mitochondrial enzyme mediates glutaminolysis, producing large pools of intracellular glutamate. Up-regulation of the plasma membrane cystine/glutamate antiporter, system xc-, promotes aberrant glutamate release from cancer cells. Increased levels of extracellular glutamate have been associated with the progression of cancer-induced pain and we discuss how this can be mediated by activation of TRPV1. Conclusion With a growing population of patients receiving inadequate treatment for intractable pain, new targets need to be considered to better address this largely unmet clinical need for improving their quality of life. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the unique qualities of cancer pain will help to identify novel targets that are able to limit the initiation of pain from a peripheral source–the tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gurmit Singh
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine; Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON. Canada
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108
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Akins NS, Nielson TC, Le HV. Inhibition of Glycolysis and Glutaminolysis: An Emerging Drug Discovery Approach to Combat Cancer. Curr Top Med Chem 2018; 18:494-504. [PMID: 29788892 PMCID: PMC6110043 DOI: 10.2174/1568026618666180523111351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells have a very different metabolism from that of normal cells from which they are derived. Their metabolism is elevated, which allows them to sustain higher proliferative rate and resist some cell death signals. This phenomenon, known as the "Warburg effect", has become the focus of intensive efforts in the discovery of new therapeutic targets and new cancer drugs. Both glycolysis and glutaminolysis pathways are enhanced in cancer cells. While glycolysis is enhanced to satisfy the increasing energy demand of cancer cells, glutaminolysis is enhanced to provide biosynthetic precursors for cancer cells. It was recently discovered that there is a tyrosine phosphorylation of a specific isoform of pyruvate kinase, the M2 isoform, that is preferentially expressed in all cancer cells, which results in the generation of pyruvate through a unique enzymatic mechanism that is uncoupled from ATP production. Pyruvate produced through this unique enzymatic mechanism is converted primarily into lactic acid, rather than acetyl-CoA for the synthesis of citrate, which would normally then enter the citric acid cycle. Inhibition of key enzymes in glycolysis and glutaminolysis pathways with small molecules has provided a novel but emerging area of cancer research and has been proven effective in slowing the proliferation of cancer cells, with several inhibitors being in clinical trials. This review paper will cover recent advances in the development of chemotherapeutic agents against several metabolic targets for cancer therapy, including glucose transporters, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase M2, glutaminase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S. Akins
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Mississippi 38677, USA
| | - Tanner C. Nielson
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Mississippi 38677, USA
| | - Hoang V. Le
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Mississippi 38677, USA
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109
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Roux C, Riganti C, Borgogno SF, Curto R, Curcio C, Catanzaro V, Digilio G, Padovan S, Puccinelli MP, Isabello M, Aime S, Cappello P, Novelli F. Endogenous glutamine decrease is associated with pancreatic cancer progression. Oncotarget 2017; 8:95361-95376. [PMID: 29221133 PMCID: PMC5707027 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is becoming the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. The mortality is very high, which emphasizes the need to identify biomarkers for early detection. As glutamine metabolism alteration is a feature of PDAC, its in vivo evaluation may provide a useful tool for biomarker identification. Our aim was to identify a handy method to evaluate blood glutamine consumption in mouse models of PDAC. We quantified the in vitro glutamine uptake by Mass Spectrometry (MS) in tumor cell supernatants and showed that it was higher in PDAC compared to non-PDAC tumor and pancreatic control human cells. The increased glutamine uptake was paralleled by higher activity of most glutamine pathway-related enzymes supporting nucleotide and ATP production. Free glutamine blood levels were evaluated in orthotopic and spontaneous mouse models of PDAC and other pancreatic-related disorders by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and/or MS. Notably we observed a reduction of blood glutamine as much as the tumor progressed from pancreatic intraepithelial lesions to invasive PDAC, but was not related to chronic pancreatitis-associated inflammation or diabetes. In parallel the increased levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) were observed. By contrast blood glutamine levels were stable in non-tumor bearing mice. These findings demonstrated that glutamine uptake is measurable both in vitro and in vivo. The higher in vitro avidity of PDAC cells corresponded to a lower blood glutamine level as soon as the tumor mass grew. The reduction in circulating glutamine represents a novel tool exploitable to implement other diagnostic or prognostic PDAC biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Roux
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Sammy Ferri Borgogno
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Roberta Curto
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Curcio
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Valeria Catanzaro
- Department of Science and Technologic Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Digilio
- Department of Science and Technologic Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Sergio Padovan
- Institute for Biostructures and Bioimages (CNR) c/o Molecular Biotechnology Center, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Puccinelli
- Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Monica Isabello
- Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvio Aime
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Cappello
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Novelli
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
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110
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Tian Y, Du W, Cao S, Wu Y, Dong N, Wang Y, Xu Y. Systematic analyses of glutamine and glutamate metabolisms across different cancer types. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CANCER 2017; 36:88. [PMID: 29116024 PMCID: PMC5678792 DOI: 10.1186/s40880-017-0255-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamine and glutamate are known to play important roles in cancer biology. However, no detailed information is available in terms of their levels of involvement in various biological processes across different cancer types, whereas such knowledge could be critical for understanding the distinct characteristics of different cancer types. Our computational study aimed to examine the functional roles of glutamine and glutamate across different cancer types. METHODS We conducted a comparative analysis of gene expression data of cancer tissues versus normal control tissues of 11 cancer types to understand glutamine and glutamate metabolisms in cancer. Specifically, we developed a linear regression model to assess differential contributions by glutamine and/or glutamate to each of seven biological processes in cancer versus control tissues. RESULTS While our computational predictions were consistent with some of the previous observations, multiple novel predictions were made: (1) glutamine is generally not involved in purine synthesis in cancer except for breast cancer, and is similarly not involved in pyridine synthesis except for kidney cancer; (2) glutamine is generally not involved in ATP production in cancer; (3) glutamine's contribution to nucleotide synthesis is minimal if any in cancer; (4) glutamine is not involved in asparagine synthesis in cancer except for bladder and lung cancers; and (5) glutamate does not contribute to serine synthesis except for bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS We comprehensively predicted the roles of glutamine and glutamate metabolisms in selected metabolic pathways in cancer tissues versus control tissues, which may lead to novel approaches to therapeutic development targeted at glutamine and/or glutamate metabolism. However, our predictions need further functional validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Tian
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 Jilin P. R. China
| | - Wei Du
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 Jilin P. R. China
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, 120 E Green St, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Sha Cao
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, 120 E Green St, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Yue Wu
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, 120 E Green St, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Ning Dong
- The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 Jilin P. R. China
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, 120 E Green St, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 Jilin P. R. China
| | - Ying Xu
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 Jilin P. R. China
- College of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 Jilin P. R. China
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, 120 E Green St, Athens, GA 30602 USA
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111
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Lampa M, Arlt H, He T, Ospina B, Reeves J, Zhang B, Murtie J, Deng G, Barberis C, Hoffmann D, Cheng H, Pollard J, Winter C, Richon V, Garcia-Escheverria C, Adrian F, Wiederschain D, Srinivasan L. Glutaminase is essential for the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells with a deregulated glutamine metabolism pathway and its suppression synergizes with mTOR inhibition. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185092. [PMID: 28950000 PMCID: PMC5614427 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells display fundamental changes in metabolism and nutrient uptake in order to utilize additional nutrient sources to meet their enhanced bioenergetic requirements. Glutamine (Gln) is one such nutrient that is rapidly taken up by tumor cells to fulfill this increased metabolic demand. A vital step in the catabolism of glutamine is its conversion to glutamate by the mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase (GLS). This study has identified GLS a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer, specifically in the basal subtype that exhibits a deregulated glutaminolysis pathway. Using inducible shRNA mediated gene knockdown, we discovered that loss of GLS function in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines with a deregulated glutaminolysis pathway led to profound tumor growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo. GLS knockdown had no effect on growth and metabolite levels in non-TNBC cell lines. We rescued the anti-tumor effect of GLS knockdown using shRNA resistant cDNAs encoding both GLS isoforms and by addition of an α-ketoglutarate (αKG) analog thus confirming the critical role of GLS in TNBC. Pharmacological inhibition of GLS with the small molecule inhibitor CB-839 reduced cell growth and led to a decrease in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity and an increase in the stress response pathway driven by activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Finally, we found that GLS inhibition synergizes with mTOR inhibition, which introduces the possibility of a novel therapeutic strategy for TNBC. Our study revealed that GLS is essential for the survival of TNBC with a deregulated glutaminolysis pathway. The synergistic activity of GLS and mTOR inhibitors in TNBC cell lines suggests therapeutic potential of this combination for the treatment of vulnerable subpopulations of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lampa
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Heike Arlt
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Timothy He
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Beatriz Ospina
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Jason Reeves
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Bailin Zhang
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Joshua Murtie
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Gejing Deng
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Claude Barberis
- Integrated Drug Discovery Platform, Sanofi, Waltham, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Hong Cheng
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Jack Pollard
- Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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112
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Li L, Eid JE, Paz AC, Trent JC. Metabolic Enzymes in Sarcomagenesis: Progress Toward Biology and Therapy. BioDrugs 2017; 31:379-392. [DOI: 10.1007/s40259-017-0237-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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113
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Muir A, Danai LV, Gui DY, Waingarten CY, Lewis CA, Vander Heiden MG. Environmental cystine drives glutamine anaplerosis and sensitizes cancer cells to glutaminase inhibition. eLife 2017; 6:27713. [PMID: 28826492 PMCID: PMC5589418 DOI: 10.7554/elife.27713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many mammalian cancer cell lines depend on glutamine as a major tri-carboxylic acid (TCA) cycle anaplerotic substrate to support proliferation. However, some cell lines that depend on glutamine anaplerosis in culture rely less on glutamine catabolism to proliferate in vivo. We sought to understand the environmental differences that cause differential dependence on glutamine for anaplerosis. We find that cells cultured in adult bovine serum, which better reflects nutrients available to cells in vivo, exhibit decreased glutamine catabolism and reduced reliance on glutamine anaplerosis compared to cells cultured in standard tissue culture conditions. We find that levels of a single nutrient, cystine, accounts for the differential dependence on glutamine in these different environmental contexts. Further, we show that cystine levels dictate glutamine dependence via the cystine/glutamate antiporter xCT/SLC7A11. Thus, xCT/SLC7A11 expression, in conjunction with environmental cystine, is necessary and sufficient to increase glutamine catabolism, defining important determinants of glutamine anaplerosis and glutaminase dependence in cancer. Cancer cells need to consume certain nutrients in order to grow, and some cancer drugs work by affecting the ability of the cells to use these nutrients. For decades researchers have grown cancer cells in petri dishes with standard nutrient formulations (also known as tissue culture), but the nutrients available to cancer cells in tissue culture are not the same as those found in the body. Cancer cells growing in tissue culture consume large amounts of a nutrient called glutamine. These cells die when exposed to a class of drugs called glutaminase inhibitors that prevent them from processing glutamine. However, when these same cancer cells grow as tumors in animals, they process less glutamine and are not affected by glutaminase inhibitors. So what differences are there between growing cancer cells in tumors and tissue culture that explain this different reliance on glutamine? Muir et al. reasoned that changing the levels of nutrients available to cancer cells might change what these cells consume, and so grew human cancer cells in cow serum (which has a similar nutrient content to blood in humans and other mammals). Indeed, these cells consumed less glutamine and responded to glutaminase inhibitors in a way that is similar to how tumors in the body respond to these drugs. Comparing the nutrient content of cow serum and typical tissue culture formulations revealed that high levels of the nutrient cystine cause the cells to rely more on glutamine. The results presented by Muir et al. suggest that cancer cells in tumors could be made to consume more glutamine and that this would make them sensitive to glutaminase inhibitors – a possibility that will be studied in future work. Exposing cultured cancer cells to nutrient levels closer to those found in the body may also better predict how tumor cells use nutrients and respond to some treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Muir
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Laura V Danai
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Dan Y Gui
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Chiara Y Waingarten
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Caroline A Lewis
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Matthew G Vander Heiden
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States.,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
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114
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Lu WQ, Hu YY, Lin XP, Fan W. Knockdown of PKM2 and GLS1 expression can significantly reverse oxaliplatin-resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:44171-44185. [PMID: 28498807 PMCID: PMC5546471 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) thus far encounters a huge challenge due to oxaliplatin-resistance. As crucial rate-limiting enzymes in aerobic glycolysis and glutaminolysis, pyruvate kinase M2 type (PKM2) and kidney-type glutaminase (GLS1) are proposed to carry important implications in colorectal carcinogenesis and drug-resistance. This study aimed to explore the possible association of oxaliplatin-resistance with aerobic glycolysis/glutaminolysis indexed by PKM2/GLS1 expression. PKM2 and GLS1 expression was quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot techniques in CRC cell lines. The abilities of cell formation, kinetics, migration, invasion, survival and apoptosis, as well as permeability glycoprotein (Pgp) expression were inspected before and after knocking-down PKM2/GLS1 expression. In addition, the influence of knocking-down PKM2/GLS1 expression was evaluated in vivo. Differentiated PKM2 and GLS1 expression in both THC8307 and THC8307/Oxa cell lines was identified. In the THC8307 cell line, PKM2 and GLS1 can accelerate malignant behaviors, increase oxaliplatin-resistance, upregulate Pgp expression, and inhibit cell apoptosis. Contrastingly in the THC8307/Oxa cell line, knockdown of PKM2/GLS1 expression can restrain malignant behaviors, reestablish oxaliplatin-sensitivity, downregulate Pgp expression, and induce cell apoptosis. In xenograft, knockdown of PKM2/GLS1 expression can significantly inhibit tumor growth, reduce Pgp expression, and increase tumor apoptosis. Taken together, the present findings enriched our knowledge by demonstrating a significant association of PKM2 and GLS1 with oxaliplatin-resistance in CRC. We further propose that knockdown of PKM2/GLS1 expression may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy toward effective treatment for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Qun Lu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Ying Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ping Lin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wei Fan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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115
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Huang H, Vandekeere S, Kalucka J, Bierhansl L, Zecchin A, Brüning U, Visnagri A, Yuldasheva N, Goveia J, Cruys B, Brepoels K, Wyns S, Rayport S, Ghesquière B, Vinckier S, Schoonjans L, Cubbon R, Dewerchin M, Eelen G, Carmeliet P. Role of glutamine and interlinked asparagine metabolism in vessel formation. EMBO J 2017; 36:2334-2352. [PMID: 28659375 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201695518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is emerging as a regulator of angiogenesis, but the precise role of glutamine metabolism in ECs is unknown. Here, we show that depriving ECs of glutamine or inhibiting glutaminase 1 (GLS1) caused vessel sprouting defects due to impaired proliferation and migration, and reduced pathological ocular angiogenesis. Inhibition of glutamine metabolism in ECs did not cause energy distress, but impaired tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle anaplerosis, macromolecule production, and redox homeostasis. Only the combination of TCA cycle replenishment plus asparagine supplementation restored the metabolic aberrations and proliferation defect caused by glutamine deprivation. Mechanistically, glutamine provided nitrogen for asparagine synthesis to sustain cellular homeostasis. While ECs can take up asparagine, silencing asparagine synthetase (ASNS, which converts glutamine-derived nitrogen and aspartate to asparagine) impaired EC sprouting even in the presence of glutamine and asparagine. Asparagine further proved crucial in glutamine-deprived ECs to restore protein synthesis, suppress ER stress, and reactivate mTOR signaling. These findings reveal a novel link between endothelial glutamine and asparagine metabolism in vessel sprouting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongling Huang
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Saar Vandekeere
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joanna Kalucka
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Bierhansl
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annalisa Zecchin
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ulrike Brüning
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Asjad Visnagri
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Nadira Yuldasheva
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Jermaine Goveia
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert Cruys
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katleen Brepoels
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sabine Wyns
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephen Rayport
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bart Ghesquière
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Vinckier
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Schoonjans
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Richard Cubbon
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Mieke Dewerchin
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Eelen
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium .,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
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116
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Thompson RM, Dytfeld D, Reyes L, Robinson RM, Smith B, Manevich Y, Jakubowiak A, Komarnicki M, Przybylowicz-Chalecka A, Szczepaniak T, Mitra AK, Van Ness BG, Luczak M, Dolloff NG. Glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 synergizes with carfilzomib in resistant multiple myeloma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:35863-35876. [PMID: 28415782 PMCID: PMC5482623 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Curative responses in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) are limited by the emergence of therapeutic resistance. To address this problem, we set out to identify druggable mechanisms that convey resistance to proteasome inhibitors (PIs; e.g., bortezomib), which are cornerstone agents in the treatment of MM. In isogenic pairs of PI sensitive and resistant cells, we observed stark differences in cellular bioenergetics between the divergent phenotypes. PI resistant cells exhibited increased mitochondrial respiration driven by glutamine as the principle fuel source. To target glutamine-induced respiration in PI resistant cells, we utilized the glutaminase-1 inhibitor, CB-839. CB-839 inhibited mitochondrial respiration and was more cytotoxic in PI resistant cells as a single agent. Furthermore, we found that CB-839 synergistically enhanced the activity of multiple PIs with the most dramatic synergy being observed with carfilzomib (Crflz), which was confirmed in a panel of genetically diverse PI sensitive and resistant MM cells. Mechanistically, CB-839 enhanced Crflz-induced ER stress and apoptosis, characterized by a robust induction of ATF4 and CHOP and the activation of caspases. Our findings suggest that the acquisition of PI resistance involves adaptations in cellular bioenergetics, supporting the combination of CB-839 with Crflz for the treatment of refractory MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravyn M. Thompson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Dominik Dytfeld
- Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Leticia Reyes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Reeder M. Robinson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Brittany Smith
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Yefim Manevich
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Magdalena Luczak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Nathan G. Dolloff
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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117
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi V Dang
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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118
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Hopefully devoted to Q: targeting glutamine addiction in cancer. Br J Cancer 2017; 116:1375-1381. [PMID: 28441384 PMCID: PMC5520092 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered cell metabolism enables tumours to sustain their increased energetic and biosynthetic needs. Although tumour metabolism has long been considered a promising discipline in the development of cancer therapeutics, the majority of work has focused on changes in glucose metabolism. However, the complexity of cellular metabolism means that very rarely is an individual metabolite required for a single purpose, and thus understanding the overall metabolic requirements of tumours is vital. Over the past 30 years, increasing evidence has shown that many tumours require glutamine as well as glucose for their proliferation and survival. In this minireview, we explore the complexity of glutamine metabolism in tumour cells, discussing how the overall context of the tumour dictates the requirement for glutamine and how this can affect the design of effective therapeutic strategies.
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119
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Li Y, Peer J, Zhao R, Xu Y, Wu B, Wang Y, Tian C, Huang Y, Zheng J. Serial deletion reveals structural basis and stability for the core enzyme activity of human glutaminase 1 isoforms: relevance to excitotoxic neurodegeneration. Transl Neurodegener 2017; 6:10. [PMID: 28439409 PMCID: PMC5399437 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-017-0080-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glutaminase 1 is a phosphate-activated metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the first step of glutaminolysis, which converts glutamine into glutamate. Glutamate is the major neurotransmitter of excitatory synapses, executing important physiological functions in the central nervous system. There are two isoforms of glutaminase 1, KGA and GAC, both of which are generated through alternative splicing from the same gene. KGA and GAC both transcribe 1–14 exons in the N-terminal, but each has its unique C-terminal in the coding sequence. We have previously identified that KGA and GAC are differentially regulated during inflammatory stimulation and HIV infection. Furthermore, glutaminase 1 has been linked to brain diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and hepatic encephalopathy. Core enzyme structure of KGA and GAC has been published recently. However, how other coding sequences affect their functional enzyme activity remains unclear. Methods We cloned and performed serial deletions of human full-length KGA and GAC from the N-terminal and the C-terminal at an interval of approximately 100 amino acids (AAs). Prokaryotic expressions of the mutant glutaminase 1 protein and a glutaminase enzyme activity assay were used to determine if KGA and GAC have similar efficiency and efficacy to convert glutamine into glutamate. Results When 110 AAs or 218 AAs were deleted from the N-terminal or when the unique portions of KGA and GAC that are beyond the 550 AA were deleted from the C-terminal, KGA and GAC retained enzyme activity comparable to the full length proteins. In contrast, deletion of 310 AAs or more from N-terminal or deletion of 450 AAs or more from C-terminal resulted in complete loss of enzyme activity for KGA/GAC. Consistently, when both N- and C-terminal of the KGA and GAC were removed, creating a truncated protein that expressed the central 219 AA - 550 AA, the protein retained enzyme activity. Furthermore, expression of the core 219 AA - 550 AA coding sequence in cells increased extracellular glutamate concentrations to levels comparable to those of full-length KGA and GAC expressions, suggesting that the core enzyme activity of the protein lies within the central 219 AA - 550 AA. Full-length KGA and GAC retained enzyme activities when kept at 4 °C. In contrast, 219 AA - 550 AA truncated protein lost glutaminase activities more readily compared with full-length KGA and GAC, suggesting that the N-terminal and C-terminal coding regions are required for the stability KGA and GAC. Conclusions Glutaminase isoforms KGA and GAC have similar efficacy to catalyze the conversion of glutamine to glutamate. The core enzyme activity of glutaminase 1 protein is within the central 219 AA - 550 AA. The N-terminal and C-terminal coding regions of KGA and GAC help maintain the long-term activities of the enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuju Li
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Justin Peer
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Runze Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Yinghua Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Beiqing Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Changhai Tian
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Yunlong Huang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.,Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.,Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Regenerative Therapy, Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience and Pathology and Microbiology, 985930 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5930 USA
| | - Jialin Zheng
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.,Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.,Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China.,Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Regenerative Therapy, Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience and Pathology and Microbiology, 985930 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5930 USA
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120
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Fahrmann JF, Grapov DD, Wanichthanarak K, DeFelice BC, Salemi MR, Rom WN, Gandara DR, Phinney BS, Fiehn O, Pass H, Miyamoto S. Integrated Metabolomics and Proteomics Highlight Altered Nicotinamide- and Polyamine Pathways in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Carcinogenesis 2017; 38:271-280. [PMID: 28049629 PMCID: PMC5862279 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgw205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma being the most common histological type. Early perturbations in cellular metabolism are a hallmark of cancer, but the extent of these changes in early stage lung adenocarcinoma remains largely unknown. In the current study, an integrated metabolomics and proteomics approach was utilized to characterize the biochemical and molecular alterations between malignant and matched control tissue from 27 subjects diagnosed with early stage lung adenocarcinoma. Differential analysis identified 71 metabolites and 1102 proteins that delineated tumor from control tissue. Integrated results indicated four major metabolic changes in early stage adenocarcinoma: (1) increased glycosylation and glutaminolysis; (2) elevated Nrf2 activation; (3) increase in nicotinic and nicotinamide salvaging pathways; and (4) elevated polyamine biosynthesis linked to differential regulation of the SAM/nicotinamide methyl-donor pathway. Genomic data from publicly available databases were included to strengthen proteomic findings. Our findings provide insight into the biochemical and molecular biological reprogramming that may accompanies early stage lung tumorigenesis and highlight potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes F Fahrmann
- University of California, Davis, West Coast Metabolomics Center, Davis, California
| | | | | | - Brian C DeFelice
- University of California, Davis, West Coast Metabolomics Center, Davis, California
| | | | - William N Rom
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David R Gandara
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | | | - Oliver Fiehn
- University of California, Davis, West Coast Metabolomics Center, Davis, California
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia
| | - Harvey Pass
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne Miyamoto
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
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121
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Amoedo ND, Obre E, Rossignol R. Drug discovery strategies in the field of tumor energy metabolism: Limitations by metabolic flexibility and metabolic resistance to chemotherapy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2017; 1858:674-685. [PMID: 28213330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The search for new drugs capable of blocking the metabolic vulnerabilities of human tumors has now entered the clinical evaluation stage, but several projects already failed in phase I or phase II. In particular, very promising in vitro studies could not be translated in vivo at preclinical stage and beyond. This was the case for most glycolysis inhibitors that demonstrated systemic toxicity. A more recent example is the inhibition of glutamine catabolism in lung adenocarcinoma that failed in vivo despite a strong addiction of several cancer cell lines to glutamine in vitro. Such contradictory findings raised several questions concerning the optimization of drug discovery strategies in the field of cancer metabolism. For instance, the cell culture models in 2D or 3D might already show strong limitations to mimic the tumor micro- and macro-environment. The microenvironment of tumors is composed of cancer cells of variegated metabolic profiles, supporting local metabolic exchanges and symbiosis, but also of immune cells and stroma that further interact with and reshape cancer cell metabolism. The macroenvironment includes the different tissues of the organism, capable of exchanging signals and fueling the tumor 'a distance'. Moreover, most metabolic targets were identified from their increased expression in tumor transcriptomic studies, or from targeted analyses looking at the metabolic impact of particular oncogenes or tumor suppressors on selected metabolic pathways. Still, very few targets were identified from in vivo analyses of tumor metabolism in patients because such studies are difficult and adequate imaging methods are only currently being developed for that purpose. For instance, perfusion of patients with [13C]-glucose allows deciphering the metabolomics of tumors and opens a new area in the search for effective targets. Metabolic imaging with positron emission tomography and other techniques that do not involve [13C] can also be used to evaluate tumor metabolism and to follow the efficiency of a treatment at a preclinical or clinical stage. Relevant descriptors of tumor metabolism are now required to better stratify patients for the development of personalized metabolic medicine. In this review, we discuss the current limitations in basic research and drug discovery in the field of cancer metabolism to foster the need for more clinically relevant target identification and validation. We discuss the design of adapted drug screening assays and compound efficacy evaluation methods for the discovery of innovative anti-cancer therapeutic approaches at the level of tumor energetics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Mitochondria in Cancer, edited by Giuseppe Gasparre, Rodrigue Rossignol and Pierre Sonveaux.
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Affiliation(s)
- N D Amoedo
- University of Bordeaux, U1211MRGM, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, U1211MRGM, Bordeaux, France; Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo De Meis, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - E Obre
- University of Bordeaux, U1211MRGM, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, U1211MRGM, Bordeaux, France; CELLOMET, Bordeaux, France
| | - R Rossignol
- University of Bordeaux, U1211MRGM, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, U1211MRGM, Bordeaux, France; CELLOMET, Bordeaux, France.
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122
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Stalnecker CA, Erickson JW, Cerione RA. Conformational changes in the activation loop of mitochondrial glutaminase C: A direct fluorescence readout that distinguishes the binding of allosteric inhibitors from activators. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6095-6107. [PMID: 28196863 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.758219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The first step in glutamine catabolism is catalysis by the mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase, with a specific isoform, glutaminase C (GAC), being highly expressed in cancer cells. GAC activation requires the formation of homotetramers, promoted by anionic allosteric activators such as inorganic phosphate. This leads to the proper orientation of a flexible loop proximal to the dimer-dimer interface that is essential for catalysis (i.e. the "activation loop"). A major class of allosteric inhibitors of GAC, with the prototype being bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) and the related molecule CB-839, binds to the activation loop and induces the formation of an inactive tetramer (two inhibitors bound per active tetramer). Here we describe a direct readout for monitoring the dynamics of the activation loop of GAC in response to these allosteric inhibitors, as well as allosteric activators, through the substitution of phenylalanine at position 327 with tryptophan (F327W). The tryptophan fluorescence of the GAC(F327W) mutant undergoes a marked quenching upon the binding of BPTES or CB-839, yielding titration profiles that make it possible to measure the binding affinities of these inhibitors for the enzyme. Allosteric activators like phosphate induce the opposite effect (i.e. fluorescence enhancement). These results describe direct readouts for the binding of the BPTES class of allosteric inhibitors as well as for inorganic phosphate and related activators of GAC, which should facilitate screening for additional modulators of this important metabolic enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint A Stalnecker
- From the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, and
| | - Jon W Erickson
- From the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, and
| | - Richard A Cerione
- From the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, and .,Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
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123
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Glutaminase expression is a poor prognostic factor in node-positive triple-negative breast cancer patients with a high level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Virchows Arch 2017; 470:381-389. [DOI: 10.1007/s00428-017-2083-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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124
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Katt WP, Lukey MJ, Cerione RA. A tale of two glutaminases: homologous enzymes with distinct roles in tumorigenesis. Future Med Chem 2017; 9:223-243. [PMID: 28111979 PMCID: PMC5558546 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2016-0190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Many cancer cells exhibit an altered metabolic phenotype, in which glutamine consumption is upregulated relative to healthy cells. This metabolic reprogramming often depends upon mitochondrial glutaminase activity, which converts glutamine to glutamate, a key precursor for biosynthetic and bioenergetic processes. Two isozymes of glutaminase exist, a kidney-type (GLS) and a liver-type enzyme (GLS2 or LGA). While a majority of studies have focused on GLS, here we summarize key findings on both glutaminases, describing their structure and function, their roles in cancer and pharmacological approaches to inhibiting their activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P Katt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michael J Lukey
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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125
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Dual targeting of glutaminase 1 and thymidylate synthase elicits death synergistically in NSCLC. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2511. [PMID: 27929535 PMCID: PMC5261012 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glutaminase 1 (GLS1) expression is increased in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). GLS1 knockdown using siRNA or inhibition using bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) induced cell cycle arrest with significant reduction of ATP level while levels of reactive oxygen species or glutathione were not affected in NSCLC cell lines. Recently we found that NSCLC significantly depends on cytosol NADH for ATP production. GLS1 remarkably contributes to ATP production through transferring cytosolic NADH into mitochondria via malate-aspartate shuttle by supply of glutamate in NSCLC. Regulation of malate-aspartate shuttle by knockdown or inhibition of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 or malate dehydrogenase 2 mimicked GLS1 knockdown, which induced cell death with ATP reduction in NSCLC. Therefore, GLS1 inhibition induced cell cycle arrest with ATP depletion by glutamate reduction. Dual inhibition with BPTES and thymidylate synthase inhibitor, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), elicits cell death synergistically through cell cycle arrest in NSCLC. A preclinical xenograft model of NSCLC showed remarkable anti-tumour effect synergistically in the BPTES and 5-FU dual therapy group.
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126
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Xie C, Jin J, Bao X, Zhan WH, Han TY, Gan M, Zhang C, Wang J. Inhibition of mitochondrial glutaminase activity reverses acquired erlotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:610-21. [PMID: 26575584 PMCID: PMC4808021 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erlotinib has been approved based on the clinical benefit in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients over the past decade. Unfortunately, cancer cells become resistant to this agent via various mechanisms, and this limits the improvement in patient outcomes. Thus, it is urgent to develop novel agents to overcome erlotinib resistance. Here, we propose a novel strategy to overcome acquired erlotinib resistance in NSCLC by inhibiting glutaminase activity. Compound 968, an inhibitor of the glutaminase C (GAC), when combined with erlotinib potently inhibited the cell proliferation of erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cells HCC827ER and NCI-H1975. The combination of compound 968 and erlotinib not only decreased GAC and EGFR protein expression but also inhibited GAC activity in HCC827ER cells. The growth of erlotinib-resistant cells was glutamine-dependent as proved by GAC gene knocked down and rescue experiment. More importantly, compound 968 combined with erlotinib down-regulated the glutamine and glycolysis metabolism in erlotinib-resistant cells. Taken together, our study provides a valuable approach to overcome acquired erlotinib resistance by blocking glutamine metabolism and suggests that combination of EGFR-TKI and GAC inhibitor maybe a potential treatment strategy for acquired erlotinib-resistant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caifeng Xie
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Jiangbo Jin
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Xujie Bao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Hua Zhan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Tian-Yu Han
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Mingxi Gan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Chengfu Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
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127
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Zhou X, Zheng W, Nagana Gowda GA, Raftery D, Donkin SS, Bequette B, Teegarden D. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D inhibits glutamine metabolism in Harvey-ras transformed MCF10A human breast epithelial cell. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 163:147-56. [PMID: 27154413 PMCID: PMC5012911 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the US. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), is proposed to inhibit cellular processes and to prevent breast cancer. The current studies investigated the effect of 1,25(OH)2D on glutamine metabolism during cancer progression employing Harvey-ras oncogene transformed MCF10A human breast epithelial cells (MCF10A-ras). Treatment with 1,25(OH)2D significantly reduced intracellular glutamine and glutamate levels measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) by 23±2% each. Further, 1,25(OH)2D treatment reduced glutamine and glutamate flux, determined by [U-(13)C5] glutamine tracer kinetics, into the TCA cycle by 31±0.2% and 17±0.4%, respectively. The relative levels of mRNA and protein abundance of the major glutamine transporter, solute linked carrier family 1 member A5 (SLC1A5), was significantly decreased by 1,25(OH)2D treatment in both MCF10A-ras cells and MCF10A which overexpress ErbB2 (HER-2/neu). Consistent with these results, glutamine uptake was reduced by 1,25(OH)2D treatment and the impact was eliminated with the SLC1A5 inhibitor L-γ-Glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (GPNA). A consensus sequence to the vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) was identified in silico in the SLC1A5 gene promoter, and site-directed mutagenesis analyses with reporter gene studies demonstrate a functional negative VDRE in the promoter of the SLC1A5 gene. siRNA-SLC1A5 transfection in MCF10A-ras cells significantly reduced SLC1A5 mRNA expression as well as decreased viable cell number similar to 1,25(OH)2D treatment. SLC1A5 knockdown also induced an increase in apoptotic cells in MCF10A-ras cells. These results suggest 1,25(OH)2D alters glutamine metabolism in MCF10A-ras cells by inhibiting glutamine uptake and utilization, in part through down-regulation of SLC1A5 transcript abundance. Thus, 1,25(OH)2D down-regulation of the glutamine transporter, SLC1A5, may facilitate vitamin D prevention of breast cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Transport System ASC/antagonists & inhibitors
- Amino Acid Transport System ASC/genetics
- Amino Acid Transport System ASC/metabolism
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Citric Acid Cycle/drug effects
- Citric Acid Cycle/genetics
- Epithelial Cells/drug effects
- Epithelial Cells/metabolism
- Epithelial Cells/pathology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Glutamic Acid/metabolism
- Glutamine/analogs & derivatives
- Glutamine/antagonists & inhibitors
- Glutamine/metabolism
- Glutamine/pharmacology
- Humans
- Kinetics
- Mammary Glands, Human/drug effects
- Mammary Glands, Human/metabolism
- Mammary Glands, Human/pathology
- Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/genetics
- Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/metabolism
- Oncogene Protein p21(ras)/genetics
- Oncogene Protein p21(ras)/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Calcitriol/genetics
- Receptors, Calcitriol/metabolism
- Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives
- Vitamin D/pharmacology
- Vitamin D Response Element
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanzhu Zhou
- Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States.
| | - Wei Zheng
- Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States.
| | - G A Nagana Gowda
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States.
| | - Daniel Raftery
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States.
| | - Shawn S Donkin
- Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States.
| | - Brian Bequette
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, United States.
| | - Dorothy Teegarden
- Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States.
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128
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Abstract
The resurgence of research into cancer metabolism has recently broadened interests beyond glucose and the Warburg effect to other nutrients, including glutamine. Because oncogenic alterations of metabolism render cancer cells addicted to nutrients, pathways involved in glycolysis or glutaminolysis could be exploited for therapeutic purposes. In this Review, we provide an updated overview of glutamine metabolism and its involvement in tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo, and explore the recent potential applications of basic science discoveries in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. Altman
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman
School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zachary E. Stine
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman
School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Chi V. Dang
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman
School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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129
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Glucose-dependent anaplerosis in cancer cells is required for cellular redox balance in the absence of glutamine. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32606. [PMID: 27605385 PMCID: PMC5015067 DOI: 10.1038/srep32606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have altered metabolism compared to normal cells, including dependence on glutamine (GLN) for survival, known as GLN addiction. However, some cancer cell lines do not require GLN for survival and the basis for this discrepancy is not well understood. GLN is a precursor for antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH) and NADPH, and GLN deprivation is therefore predicted to deplete antioxidants and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using diverse human cancer cell lines we show that this occurs only in cells that rely on GLN for survival. Thus, the preference for GLN as a dominant antioxidant source defines GLN addiction. We show that despite increased glucose uptake, GLN addicted cells do not metabolize glucose via the TCA cycle when GLN is depleted, as revealed by 13C-glucose labeling. In contrast, GLN independent cells can compensate by diverting glucose-derived pyruvate into the TCA cycle. GLN addicted cells exhibit reduced PDH activity, increased PDK1 expression, and PDK inhibition partially rescues GLN starvation-induced ROS and cell death. Finally, we show that combining GLN starvation with pro-oxidants selectively kills GLN addicted cells. These data highlight a major role for GLN in maintaining redox balance in cancer cells that lack glucose-dependent anaplerosis.
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130
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Structural basis for exploring the allosteric inhibition of human kidney type glutaminase. Oncotarget 2016; 7:57943-57954. [PMID: 27462863 PMCID: PMC5295402 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells employ glutaminolysis to provide a source of intermediates for their upregulated biosynthetic needs. Glutaminase, which catalyzes the conversion of glutamine to glutamate, is gaining increasing attention as a potential drug target. Small-molecule inhibitors such as BPTES and CB-839, which target the allosteric site of glutaminase with high specificity, demonstrate immense promise as anti-tumor drugs. Here, we report the study of a new BPTES analog, N,N'-(5,5'-(trans-cyclohexane-1,3-diyl)bis(1,3,4-tiadiazole-5,2-diyl))bis(2-phenylacetamide) (trans-CBTBP), and compared its inhibitory effect against that of CB-839 and BPTES. We show that CB-839 has a 30- and 50-fold lower IC50 than trans-CBTBP and BPTES, respectively. To explore the structural basis for the differences in their inhibitory efficacy, we solved the complex structures of cKGA with 1S, 3S-CBTBP and CB-839. We found that CB-839 produces a greater degree of interaction with cKGA than 1S, 3S-CBTBP or BPTES. The results of this study will facilitate the rational design of new KGA inhibitors to better treat glutamine-addicted cancers.
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131
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Bertero T, Oldham WM, Cottrill KA, Pisano S, Vanderpool RR, Yu Q, Zhao J, Tai Y, Tang Y, Zhang YY, Rehman S, Sugahara M, Qi Z, Gorcsan J, Vargas SO, Saggar R, Saggar R, Wallace WD, Ross DJ, Haley KJ, Waxman AB, Parikh VN, De Marco T, Hsue PY, Morris A, Simon MA, Norris KA, Gaggioli C, Loscalzo J, Fessel J, Chan SY. Vascular stiffness mechanoactivates YAP/TAZ-dependent glutaminolysis to drive pulmonary hypertension. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:3313-35. [PMID: 27548520 DOI: 10.1172/jci86387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 294] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of vascular stiffness and cellular metabolism occurs early in pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the mechanisms by which biophysical properties of the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) relate to metabolic processes important in PH remain undefined. In this work, we examined cultured pulmonary vascular cells and various types of PH-diseased lung tissue and determined that ECM stiffening resulted in mechanoactivation of the transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ (WWTR1). YAP/TAZ activation modulated metabolic enzymes, including glutaminase (GLS1), to coordinate glutaminolysis and glycolysis. Glutaminolysis, an anaplerotic pathway, replenished aspartate for anabolic biosynthesis, which was critical for sustaining proliferation and migration within stiff ECM. In vitro, GLS1 inhibition blocked aspartate production and reprogrammed cellular proliferation pathways, while application of aspartate restored proliferation. In the monocrotaline rat model of PH, pharmacologic modulation of pulmonary vascular stiffness and YAP-dependent mechanotransduction altered glutaminolysis, pulmonary vascular proliferation, and manifestations of PH. Additionally, pharmacologic targeting of GLS1 in this model ameliorated disease progression. Notably, evaluation of simian immunodeficiency virus-infected nonhuman primates and HIV-infected subjects revealed a correlation between YAP/TAZ-GLS activation and PH. These results indicate that ECM stiffening sustains vascular cell growth and migration through YAP/TAZ-dependent glutaminolysis and anaplerosis, and thereby link mechanical stimuli to dysregulated vascular metabolism. Furthermore, this study identifies potential metabolic drug targets for therapeutic development in PH.
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132
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Li Y, Erickson JW, Stalnecker CA, Katt WP, Huang Q, Cerione RA, Ramachandran S. Mechanistic Basis of Glutaminase Activation: A KEY ENZYME THAT PROMOTES GLUTAMINE METABOLISM IN CANCER CELLS. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:20900-20910. [PMID: 27542409 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.720268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamine-derived carbon becomes available for anabolic biosynthesis in cancer cells via the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate, as catalyzed by GAC, a splice variant of kidney-type glutaminase (GLS). Thus, there is significant interest in understanding the regulation of GAC activity, with the suggestion being that higher order oligomerization is required for its activation. We used x-ray crystallography, together with site-directed mutagenesis, to determine the minimal enzymatic unit capable of robust catalytic activity. Mutagenesis of the helical interface between the two pairs of dimers comprising a GAC tetramer yielded a non-active, GAC dimer whose x-ray structure displays a stationary loop ("activation loop") essential for coupling the binding of allosteric activators like inorganic phosphate to catalytic activity. Further mutagenesis that removed constraints on the activation loop yielded a constitutively active dimer, providing clues regarding how the activation loop communicates with the active site, as well as with a peptide segment that serves as a "lid" to close off the active site following substrate binding. Our studies show that the formation of large GAC oligomers is not a pre-requisite for full enzymatic activity. They also offer a mechanism by which the binding of activators like inorganic phosphate enables the activation loop to communicate with the active site to ensure maximal rates of catalysis, and promotes the opening of the lid to achieve optimal product release. Moreover, these findings provide new insights into how other regulatory events might induce GAC activation within cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxing Li
- From the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and
| | - Jon W Erickson
- From the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and
| | | | | | - Qingqiu Huang
- Cornell Lab for Accelerator-based Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Richard A Cerione
- From the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine,
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133
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Goswami MT, Chen G, Chakravarthi BVSK, Pathi SS, Anand SK, Carskadon SL, Giordano TJ, Chinnaiyan AM, Thomas DG, Palanisamy N, Beer DG, Varambally S. Role and regulation of coordinately expressed de novo purine biosynthetic enzymes PPAT and PAICS in lung cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 6:23445-61. [PMID: 26140362 PMCID: PMC4695129 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit altered metabolism including aerobic glycolysis that channels several glycolytic intermediates into de novo purine biosynthetic pathway. We discovered increased expression of phosphoribosyl amidotransferase (PPAT) and phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase, phosphoribosylaminoimidazole succinocarboxamide synthetase (PAICS) enzymes of de novo purine biosynthetic pathway in lung adenocarcinomas. Transcript analyses from next-generation RNA sequencing and gene expression profiling studies suggested that PPAT and PAICS can serve as prognostic biomarkers for aggressive lung adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis of PAICS performed on tissue microarrays showed increased expression with disease progression and was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Through gene knockdown and over-expression studies we demonstrate that altering PPAT and PAICS expression modulates pyruvate kinase activity, cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore we identified genomic amplification and aneuploidy of the divergently transcribed PPAT-PAICS genomic region in a subset of lung cancers. We also present evidence for regulation of both PPAT and PAICS and pyruvate kinase activity by L-glutamine, a co-substrate for PPAT. A glutamine antagonist, 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) blocked glutamine mediated induction of PPAT and PAICS as well as reduced pyruvate kinase activity. In summary, this study reveals the regulatory mechanisms by which purine biosynthetic pathway enzymes PPAT and PAICS, and pyruvate kinase activity is increased and exposes an existing metabolic vulnerability in lung cancer cells that can be explored for pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moloy T Goswami
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Guoan Chen
- Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Balabhadrapatruni V S K Chakravarthi
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Satya S Pathi
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Immunobiology and Cancer Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Sharath K Anand
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shannon L Carskadon
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Thomas J Giordano
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dafydd G Thomas
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nallasivam Palanisamy
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Urology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - David G Beer
- Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sooryanarayana Varambally
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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134
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Chan WH, Mohamad MS, Deris S, Zaki N, Kasim S, Omatu S, Corchado JM, Al Ashwal H. Identification of informative genes and pathways using an improved penalized support vector machine with a weighting scheme. Comput Biol Med 2016; 77:102-15. [PMID: 27522238 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Incorporation of pathway knowledge into microarray analysis has brought better biological interpretation of the analysis outcome. However, most pathway data are manually curated without specific biological context. Non-informative genes could be included when the pathway data is used for analysis of context specific data like cancer microarray data. Therefore, efficient identification of informative genes is inevitable. Embedded methods like penalized classifiers have been used for microarray analysis due to their embedded gene selection. This paper proposes an improved penalized support vector machine with absolute t-test weighting scheme to identify informative genes and pathways. Experiments are done on four microarray data sets. The results are compared with previous methods using 10-fold cross validation in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and F-score. Our method shows consistent improvement over the previous methods and biological validation has been done to elucidate the relation of the selected genes and pathway with the phenotype under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weng Howe Chan
- Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics Research Group, Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Saberi Mohamad
- Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics Research Group, Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
| | - Safaai Deris
- Faculty of Creative Technology & Heritage, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Locked Bag 01, Bachok, 16300 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Nazar Zaki
- College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirate University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shahreen Kasim
- Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Batu Pahat, Malaysia
| | - Sigeru Omatu
- Department of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka 535-8585, Japan
| | - Juan Manuel Corchado
- Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca/BISITE Research Group, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Hany Al Ashwal
- College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirate University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
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135
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Metabolic profiling of potential lung cancer biomarkers using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the integrated direct infusion/ gas chromatography mass spectrometry platform. J Proteomics 2016; 145:197-206. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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136
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T Helper Cell Activation and Expansion Is Sensitive to Glutaminase Inhibition under Both Hypoxic and Normoxic Conditions. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160291. [PMID: 27467144 PMCID: PMC4965213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune responses often take place where nutrients and O2 availability are limited. This has an impact on T cell metabolism and influences activation and effector functions. T cell proliferation and expansion are associated with increased consumption of glutamine which is needed in a number of metabolic pathways and regulate various physiological processes. The first step in endogenous glutamine metabolism is reversible and is regulated by glutaminase (GLS1 and GLS2) and glutamine synthase (GLUL). There are two isoforms of GLS1, Kidney type glutaminase (KGA) and Glutaminase C (GAC). The aim of this study is to investigate the expression, localization and role of GLS1 and GLUL in naïve and activated human CD4+ T cells stimulated through the CD3 and CD28 receptors under normoxia and hypoxia. In proliferating cells, GAC was upregulated and KGA was downregulated, and both enzymes were located to the mitochondria irrespective of O2 levels. By contrast GLUL is localized to the cytoplasm and was upregulated under hypoxia. Proliferation was dependent on glutamine consumption, as glutamine deprivation and GLS1 inhibition decreased proliferation and expression of CD25 and CD226, regardless of O2 availability. Again irrespective of O2, GLS1 inhibition decreased the proportion of CCR6 and CXCR3 expressing CD4+ T cells as well as cytokine production. We propose that systemic Th cell activation and expansion might be dependent on glutamine but not O2 availability.
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137
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Hudson CD, Savadelis A, Nagaraj AB, Joseph P, Avril S, DiFeo A, Avril N. Altered glutamine metabolism in platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:41637-41649. [PMID: 27191653 PMCID: PMC5173084 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is characterized by an increase in cellular energy metabolism, which is predominantly satisfied by glucose and glutamine. Targeting metabolic pathways is an attractive approach to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness and to potentially overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer. In platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines the metabolism of both, glucose and glutamine was initially up-regulated in response to platinum treatment. In contrast, platinum-resistant cells revealed a significant dependency on the presence of glutamine, with an upregulated expression of glutamine transporter ASCT2 and glutaminase. This resulted in a higher oxygen consumption rate compared to platinum-sensitive cell lines reflecting the increased dependency of glutamine utilization through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The important role of glutamine metabolism was confirmed by stable overexpression of glutaminase, which conferred platinum resistance. Conversely, shRNA knockdown of glutaminase in platinum resistant cells resulted in re-sensitization to platinum treatment. Importantly, combining the glutaminase inhibitor BPTES with platinum synergistically inhibited platinum sensitive and resistant ovarian cancers in vitro. Apoptotic induction was significantly increased using platinum together with BPTES compared to either treatment alone. Our findings suggest that targeting glutamine metabolism together with platinum based chemotherapy offers a potential treatment strategy particularly in drug resistant ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantelle D. Hudson
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Alyssa Savadelis
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Anil Belur Nagaraj
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Peronne Joseph
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Stefanie Avril
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Analisa DiFeo
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Norbert Avril
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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138
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Ratnikov BI, Scott DA, Osterman AL, Smith JW, Ronai ZA. Metabolic rewiring in melanoma. Oncogene 2016; 36:147-157. [PMID: 27270434 PMCID: PMC5140782 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oncogene-driven metabolic rewiring is an adaptation to low nutrient and oxygen conditions in the tumor microenvironment that enables cancer cells of diverse origin to hyperproliferate. Aerobic glycolysis and enhanced reliance on glutamine utilization are prime examples of such rewiring. However, tissue of origin as well as specific genetic and epigenetic changes determines gene expression profiles underlying these metabolic alterations in specific cancers. In melanoma, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway driven by mutant BRAF or NRAS is a primary cause of malignant transformation. Activity of the MAPK pathway, as well as other factors, such as HIF1α, Myc and MITF, are among those that control the balance between non-oxidative and oxidative branches of central carbon metabolism. Here, we discuss the nature of metabolic alterations that underlie melanoma development and affect its response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- B I Ratnikov
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - D A Scott
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - A L Osterman
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - J W Smith
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Z A Ronai
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA, USA
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139
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Zimmermann SC, Wolf EF, Luu A, Thomas AG, Stathis M, Poore B, Nguyen C, Le A, Rojas C, Slusher BS, Tsukamoto T. Allosteric Glutaminase Inhibitors Based on a 1,4-Di(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)butane Scaffold. ACS Med Chem Lett 2016; 7:520-4. [PMID: 27200176 PMCID: PMC4868099 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
A series
of allosteric kidney-type glutaminase (GLS) inhibitors
were designed and synthesized using 1,4-di(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)butane
as a core scaffold. A variety of modified phenylacetyl groups were
incorporated into the 5-amino group of the two thiadiazole rings in
an attempt to facilitate additional binding interactions with the
allosteric binding site of GLS. Among the newly synthesized compounds,
4-hydroxy-N-[5-[4-[5-[(2-phenylacetyl)amino]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]butyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-benzeneacetamide, 2m, potently inhibited GLS with an IC50 value of
70 nM, although it did not exhibit time-dependency as seen with CB-839.
Antiproliferative effects of 2m on human breast cancer
lines will be also presented in comparison with those observed with
CB-839.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Zimmermann
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department
of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Emily F. Wolf
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Andrew Luu
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ajit G. Thomas
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Marigo Stathis
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Brad Poore
- Department
of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Christopher Nguyen
- Department
of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Anne Le
- Department
of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Camilo Rojas
- Department
of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Barbara S. Slusher
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department
of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Takashi Tsukamoto
- Johns
Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department
of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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140
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Redis RS, Calin GA. The interplay between lnRNAs, SNPs, and protein complexes - what does it mean for cancer metabolism? Mol Cell Oncol 2016; 3:e1166308. [PMID: 27652320 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2016.1166308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert most of their functions through protein interactions. A better understanding of these interactions will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics. Recently, we described how the lncRNA CCAT2 located at the 8q24 cancer amplicon reprograms cancer metabolism by directly interacting in an allele-specific manner with a protein complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana S Redis
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA
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141
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Environment Impacts the Metabolic Dependencies of Ras-Driven Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cell Metab 2016; 23:517-28. [PMID: 26853747 PMCID: PMC4785096 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 556] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cultured cells convert glucose to lactate, and glutamine is the major source of tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle carbon, but whether the same metabolic phenotype is found in tumors is less studied. We infused mice with lung cancers with isotope-labeled glucose or glutamine and compared the fate of these nutrients in tumor and normal tissue. As expected, lung tumors exhibit increased lactate production from glucose. However, glutamine utilization by both lung tumors and normal lung was minimal, with lung tumors showing increased glucose contribution to the TCA cycle relative to normal lung tissue. Deletion of enzymes involved in glucose oxidation demonstrates that glucose carbon contribution to the TCA cycle is required for tumor formation. These data suggest that understanding nutrient utilization by tumors can predict metabolic dependencies of cancers in vivo. Furthermore, these data argue that the in vivo environment is an important determinant of the metabolic phenotype of cancer cells.
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142
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Blockage of glutaminolysis enhances the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to PI3K/mTOR inhibition involvement of STAT3 signaling. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:11007-15. [PMID: 26894601 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-4984-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in ovarian cancer is frequently activated and implicated in tumorigenesis. Specific targeting of this pathway is therefore an attractive therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer. However, ovarian cancer cells are resistant to PP242, a dual inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2. Interestingly, blockage of GLS1 with a selective inhibitor, CB839, or siRNA dramatically sensitized the PP242-induced cell death, as evident from increased PARP cleavage. The anti-cancer activity of CB-839 and PP242 was abrogated by the addition of the TCA cycle product α-ketoglutarate, indicating the critical function of GLS1 in ovarian cancer cell survival. Finally, glutaminolysis inhibition activated apoptosis and synergistically sensitized ovarian cancer cells to priming with the mTOR inhibitor PP242. GLS1 inhibition significantly reduced phosphorylated STAT3 expression in ovarian cancer cells. These findings show that targeting glutamine addiction via GLS1 inhibition offers a potential novel therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance to PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibition.
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143
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Redis RS, Vela LE, Lu W, Ferreira de Oliveira J, Ivan C, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Adamoski D, Pasculli B, Taguchi A, Chen Y, Fernandez AF, Valledor L, Van Roosbroeck K, Chang S, Shah M, Kinnebrew G, Han L, Atlasi Y, Cheung LH, Huang GY, Monroig P, Ramirez MS, Catela Ivkovic T, Van L, Ling H, Gafà R, Kapitanovic S, Lanza G, Bankson JA, Huang P, Lai SY, Bast RC, Rosenblum MG, Radovich M, Ivan M, Bartholomeusz G, Liang H, Fraga MF, Widger WR, Hanash S, Berindan-Neagoe I, Lopez-Berestein G, Ambrosio ALB, Gomes Dias SM, Calin GA. Allele-Specific Reprogramming of Cancer Metabolism by the Long Non-coding RNA CCAT2. Mol Cell 2016; 61:520-534. [PMID: 26853146 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Altered energy metabolism is a cancer hallmark as malignant cells tailor their metabolic pathways to meet their energy requirements. Glucose and glutamine are the major nutrients that fuel cellular metabolism, and the pathways utilizing these nutrients are often altered in cancer. Here, we show that the long ncRNA CCAT2, located at the 8q24 amplicon on cancer risk-associated rs6983267 SNP, regulates cancer metabolism in vitro and in vivo in an allele-specific manner by binding the Cleavage Factor I (CFIm) complex with distinct affinities for the two subunits (CFIm25 and CFIm68). The CCAT2 interaction with the CFIm complex fine-tunes the alternative splicing of Glutaminase (GLS) by selecting the poly(A) site in intron 14 of the precursor mRNA. These findings uncover a complex, allele-specific regulatory mechanism of cancer metabolism orchestrated by the two alleles of a long ncRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana S Redis
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luz E Vela
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Weiqin Lu
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Juliana Ferreira de Oliveira
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Cristina Ivan
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Douglas Adamoski
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Barbara Pasculli
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ayumu Taguchi
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yunyun Chen
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Agustin F Fernandez
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Institute of Oncology of Asturias (IUOPA), HUCA, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - Luis Valledor
- Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, Ovideo 33006, Spain
| | - Katrien Van Roosbroeck
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Samuel Chang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maitri Shah
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Garrett Kinnebrew
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Leng Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yaser Atlasi
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015, the Netherlands
| | - Lawrence H Cheung
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gilbert Y Huang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paloma Monroig
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marc S Ramirez
- Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tina Catela Ivkovic
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Laboratory for Personalized Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Long Van
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Hui Ling
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Roberta Gafà
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Sanja Kapitanovic
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Giovanni Lanza
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - James A Bankson
- Department of Imaging Physics, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stephen Y Lai
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert C Bast
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael G Rosenblum
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Milan Radovich
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Mircea Ivan
- Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Geoffrey Bartholomeusz
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Han Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mario F Fraga
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN-CSIC), Asturias 33424, Spain
| | - William R Widger
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Samir Hanash
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca 400012, Romania; Department of Functional Genomics, The Oncology Institute, Cluj-Napoca 400015, Romania
| | - Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for RNA Interference and Non-coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andre L B Ambrosio
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Sandra M Gomes Dias
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas 13083-100, Brazil
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for RNA Interference and Non-coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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144
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Youngblood VM, Kim LC, Edwards DN, Hwang Y, Santapuram PR, Stirdivant SM, Lu P, Ye F, Brantley-Sieders DM, Chen J. The Ephrin-A1/EPHA2 Signaling Axis Regulates Glutamine Metabolism in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2016; 76:1825-36. [PMID: 26833123 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-0847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) contributes to cellular transformation and cancer progression by disrupting key metabolic signaling pathways. The EPHA2 RTK is overexpressed in aggressive forms of breast cancer, including the HER2(+) subtype, and correlates with poor prognosis. However, the role of EPHA2 in tumor metabolism remains unexplored. In this study, we used in vivo and in vitro models of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer to investigate the mechanisms by which EPHA2 ligand-independent signaling promotes tumorigenesis in the absence of its prototypic ligand, ephrin-A1. We demonstrate that ephrin-A1 loss leads to upregulated glutamine metabolism and lipid accumulation that enhanced tumor growth. Global metabolic profiling of ephrin-A1-null, HER2-overexpressing mammary tumors revealed a significant increase in glutaminolysis, a critical metabolic pathway that generates intermediates for lipogenesis. Pharmacologic inhibition of glutaminase activity reduced tumor growth in both ephrin-A1-depleted and EPHA2-overexpressing tumor allografts in vivo Mechanistically, we show that the enhanced proliferation and glutaminolysis in the absence of ephrin-A1 were attributed to increased RhoA-dependent glutaminase activity. EPHA2 depletion or pharmacologic inhibition of Rho, glutaminase, or fatty acid synthase abrogated the increased lipid content and proliferative effects of ephrin-A1 knockdown. Together, these findings highlight a novel, unsuspected connection between the EPHA2/ephrin-A1 signaling axis and tumor metabolism, and suggest potential new therapeutic targets in cancer subtypes exhibiting glutamine dependency. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1825-36. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura C Kim
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Deanna N Edwards
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Yoonha Hwang
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | | | - Pengcheng Lu
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Fei Ye
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Dana M Brantley-Sieders
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
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145
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A holistic view of cancer bioenergetics: mitochondrial function and respiration play fundamental roles in the development and progression of diverse tumors. Clin Transl Med 2016; 5:3. [PMID: 26812134 PMCID: PMC4728164 DOI: 10.1186/s40169-016-0082-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since Otto Warburg made the first observation that tumor cells exhibit altered metabolism and bioenergetics in the 1920s, many scientists have tried to further the understanding of tumor bioenergetics. Particularly, in the past decade, the application of the state-of the-art metabolomics and genomics technologies has revealed the remarkable plasticity of tumor metabolism and bioenergetics. Firstly, a wide array of tumor cells have been shown to be able to use not only glucose, but also glutamine for generating cellular energy, reducing power, and metabolic building blocks for biosynthesis. Secondly, many types of cancer cells generate most of their cellular energy via mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. Glutamine is the preferred substrate for oxidative phosphorylation in tumor cells. Thirdly, tumor cells exhibit remarkable versatility in using bioenergetics substrates. Notably, tumor cells can use metabolic substrates donated by stromal cells for cellular energy generation via oxidative phosphorylation. Further, it has been shown that mitochondrial transfer is a critical mechanism for tumor cells with defective mitochondria to restore oxidative phosphorylation. The restoration is necessary for tumor cells to gain tumorigenic and metastatic potential. It is also worth noting that heme is essential for the biogenesis and proper functioning of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Hence, it is not surprising that recent experimental data showed that heme flux and function are elevated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and that elevated heme function promotes intensified oxygen consumption, thereby fueling tumor cell proliferation and function. Finally, emerging evidence increasingly suggests that clonal evolution and tumor genetic heterogeneity contribute to bioenergetic versatility of tumor cells, as well as tumor recurrence and drug resistance. Although mutations are found only in several metabolic enzymes in tumors, diverse mutations in signaling pathways and networks can cause changes in the expression and activity of metabolic enzymes, which likely enable tumor cells to gain their bioenergetic versatility. A better understanding of tumor bioenergetics should provide a more holistic approach to investigate cancer biology and therapeutics. This review therefore attempts to comprehensively consider and summarize the experimental data supporting our latest view of cancer bioenergetics.
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Glutamine drives glutathione synthesis and contributes to radiation sensitivity of A549 and H460 lung cancer cell lines. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1860:836-43. [PMID: 26825773 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased glutamine uptake is known to drive cancer cell proliferation, making tumor cells glutamine-dependent. Glutamine provides additional carbon and nitrogen sources for cell growth. The first step in glutamine utilization is its conversion to glutamate by glutaminase (GLS). Glutamate is a precursor for glutathione synthesis, and we investigated the hypothesis that glutamine drives glutathione synthesis and thereby contributes to cellular defense systems. METHODS The importance of glutamine for glutathione synthesis was studied in H460 and A549 lung cancer cell lines using glutamine-free medium and bis-2-(5-phenyl-acetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) a GLS inhibitor. Metabolic activities were determined by targeted mass spectrometry. RESULTS A significant correlation between glutamine consumption and glutathione excretion was demonstrated in H460 and A549 tumor cells. Culturing in the presence of [(13)C5]glutamine demonstrated that by 12h >50% of excreted glutathione was derived from glutamine. Culturing in glutamine-free medium or treatment with BPTES, a GLS-specific inhibitor, reduced cell proliferation and viability and abolished glutathione excretion. Treatment with glutathione-ester prevented BPTES-induced cytotoxicity. Inhibition of GLS markedly radiosensitized the lung tumor cell lines, suggesting an important role of glutamine-derived glutathione in determining radiation sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate here for the first time that a significant amount of extracellular glutathione is directly derived from glutamine. This finding adds yet another important function to the already known glutamine dependence of tumor cells and probably tumors as well. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Glutamine is essential for synthesis and excretion of glutathione to promote cell growth and viability.
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147
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Lou TF, Sethuraman D, Dospoy P, Srivastva P, Kim HS, Kim J, Ma X, Chen PH, Huffman KE, Frink RE, Larsen JE, Lewis C, Um SW, Kim DH, Ahn JM, DeBerardinis RJ, White MA, Minna JD, Yoo H. Cancer-Specific Production of N-Acetylaspartate via NAT8L Overexpression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Potential as a Circulating Biomarker. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2016; 9:43-52. [PMID: 26511490 PMCID: PMC4774047 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-14-0287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In order to identify new cancer-associated metabolites that may be useful for early detection of lung cancer, we performed a global metabolite profiling of a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) line and immortalized normal lung epithelial cells from the same patient. Among several metabolites with significant cancer/normal differences, we identified a unique metabolic compound, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), in cancer cells-undetectable in normal lung epithelium. NAA's cancer-specific detection was validated in additional cancer and control lung cells as well as selected NSCLC patient tumors and control tissues. NAA's cancer specificity was further supported in our analysis of NAA synthetase (gene symbol: NAT8L) gene expression levels in The Cancer Genome Atlas: elevated NAT8L expression in approximately 40% of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma cases (N = 577), with minimal expression in all nonmalignant lung tissues (N = 74). We then showed that NAT8L is functionally involved in NAA production of NSCLC cells through siRNA-mediated suppression of NAT8L, which caused selective reduction of intracellular and secreted NAA. Our cell culture experiments also indicated that NAA biosynthesis in NSCLC cells depends on glutamine availability. For preliminary evaluation of NAA's clinical potential as a circulating biomarker, we developed a sensitive NAA blood assay and found that NAA blood levels were elevated in 46% of NSCLC patients (N = 13) in comparison with age-matched healthy controls (N = 21) among individuals aged 55 years or younger. Taken together, these results indicate that NAA is produced specifically in NSCLC tumors through NAT8L overexpression, and its extracellular secretion can be detected in blood. Cancer Prev Res; 9(1); 43-52. ©2015 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Fang Lou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Deepa Sethuraman
- Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Patrick Dospoy
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Pallevi Srivastva
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Hyun Seok Kim
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Joongsoo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Xiaotu Ma
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Pei-Hsuan Chen
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kenneth E Huffman
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Robin E Frink
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jill E Larsen
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Cheryl Lewis
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Sang-Won Um
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Duk-Hwan Kim
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung-Mo Ahn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Michael A White
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - John D Minna
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Hyuntae Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas.
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148
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Nault R, Fader KA, Kirby MP, Ahmed S, Matthews J, Jones AD, Lunt SY, Zacharewski TR. Pyruvate Kinase Isoform Switching and Hepatic Metabolic Reprogramming by the Environmental Contaminant 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin. Toxicol Sci 2015; 149:358-71. [PMID: 26582802 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) elicits dose-dependent hepatotoxicity that includes fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis that may progress to hepatocellular carcinoma. To further investigate these effects, RNA-Seq data were integrated with computationally identified putative dioxin response elements, and complementary targeted metabolomic and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ChIP-Seq data from female C57BL/6 mice gavaged with TCDD every 4 days for 28 days. Data integration using CytoKEGG with manual curation identified dose-dependent alterations in central carbon and amino acid metabolism. More specifically, TCDD increased pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) gene and protein expression. PKM2 has lower catalytic activity resulting in decreased glycolytic flux and the accumulation of upstream intermediates that were redirected to the pentose phosphate pathway and serine/folate biosynthesis, 2 important NADPH producing pathways stemming from glycolysis. In addition, the GAC:KGA glutaminase (GLS1) protein isoform ratio was increased, consistent with increases in glutaminolysis which serves an anaplerotic role for the TCA cycle and compensates for the reduced glycolytic flux. Collectively, gene expression, protein, and metabolite changes were indicative of increases in NADPH production in support of cytochrome P450 activity and ROS defenses. This AhR-mediated metabolic reprogramming is similar to the Warburg effect and represents a novel advantageous defense mechanism to increase anti-oxidant capacity in normal differentiated hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rance Nault
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, Institute for Integrative Toxicology
| | - Kelly A Fader
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, Institute for Integrative Toxicology
| | - Mathew P Kirby
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Shaimaa Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jason Matthews
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada, Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0316, Norway, and
| | - A Daniel Jones
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Sophia Y Lunt
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Timothy R Zacharewski
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, Institute for Integrative Toxicology,
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149
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Glutaminases in slowly proliferating gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms/tumors (GEP-NETs): Selective overexpression of mRNA coding for the KGA isoform. Exp Mol Pathol 2015; 100:74-8. [PMID: 26581715 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2015.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Glutamine (Gln) is a crucial metabolite in cancer cells of different origin, and the expression and activity of different isoforms of the Gln-degrading enzyme, glutaminase (GA), have variable implications for tumor growth and metabolism. Human glutaminases are encoded by two genes: the GLS gene encodes the kidney-type glutaminases, KGA and GAC, while the GLS2 gene encodes the liver-type glutaminases, GAB and LGA. Recent studies suggest that the GAC isoform and thus high GAC/KGA ratio, are characteristic of highly proliferating tumors, while GLS2 proteins have an inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Here we analyzed the expression levels of distinct GA transcripts in 7 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) with low proliferation index and 7 non-neoplastic tissues. GEP-NETs overexpressed KGA, while GAC, which was the most abundant isoform, was not different from control. The expression of the GLS2 gene showed tendency towards elevation in GEP-NETs compared to control. Collectively, the expression pattern of GA isoforms conforms to the low proliferative capacity of GEP-NETs encompassed in this study.
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150
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Influence of Serum and Hypoxia on Incorporation of [14C]-d-Glucose or [14C]-l-Glutamine into Lipids and Lactate in Murine Glioblastoma Cells. Lipids 2015; 50:1167-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s11745-015-4075-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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