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Zhu W, Fu M, Li Q, Chen X, Liu Y, Li X, Luo N, Tang W, Zhang Q, Yang F, Chen Z, Zhang Y, Peng B, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Peng X, Hu G. Amino acid metabolism-related genes as potential biomarkers and the role of MATN3 in stomach adenocarcinoma: A bioinformatics, mendelian randomization and experimental validation study. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 143:113253. [PMID: 39353384 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Alterations in amino acid metabolism, which is integral to protein synthesis, have been observed across various tumor types. However, the prognostic significance of amino acid metabolism-related genes in STAD remains underexplored. METHODS Transcriptomic gene expression and clinical data for STAD patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Amino acid metabolism-related gene sets were sourced from the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) database. A prognostic model was built using LASSO Cox regression based on the TCGA cohort and validated with GEO datasets (GSE84433, GSE84437, GSE84426). Kaplan-Meier analysis compared overall survival (OS) between high- and low-risk groups, and ROC curves assessed model accuracy. A nomogram predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. Copy number variations (CNVs) in model genes were visualized using data from the Xena platform, and mutation profiles were analyzed with "maftools" to create a waterfall plot. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were performed to explore biological mechanisms. Immune infiltration and related functions were evaluated via ssGSEA, and Spearman correlation analyzed associations between risk scores and immune components. The TIDE database predicted immunotherapy efficacy, while FDA-approved drug sensitivity was assessed through CellMiner database. The role of MATN3 in STAD was further examined in vitro and in vivo, including amino acid-targeted metabolomic sequencing to assess its impact on metabolism. Finally, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis evaluated the causal relationship between the model genes and gastric cancer. RESULTS In this study, we developed a prognostic risk model for STAD based on three amino acid metabolism-related genes (SERPINE1, NRP1, MATN3) using LASSO regression analysis. CNV amplification was common in SERPINE1 and NRP1, while CNV deletion frequently occurred in MATN3. STAD patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score, with the high-risk group showing worse prognosis. A nomogram incorporating the risk score and clinical factors was created to estimate 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Distinct mutation profiles were observed between risk groups, with KEGG pathway analysis showing immune-related pathways enriched in the high-risk group. High-risk scores were significantly associated with the C6 (TGF-β dominant) subtype, while low-risk scores correlated with the C4 (lymphocyte-depleted) subtype. Higher risk scores also indicated increased immune infiltration, enhanced immune functions, lower tumor purity, and poorer immunotherapy response. Model genes were linked to anticancer drug sensitivity. Manipulating MATN3 expression showed that it promoted STAD cell proliferation and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Metabolomic sequencing revealed that MATN3 knockdown elevated levels of 30 amino acid metabolites, including alpha-aminobutyric acid, glycine, and aspartic acid, while reducing (S)-β-Aminoisobutyric acid and argininosuccinic acid. MR analysis found a significant causal effect of NRP1 on gastric cancer, but no causal relationship for MATN3 or SERPINE1. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the amino acid metabolism-related prognostic model shows promise as a valuable biomarker for predicting the clinical prognosis, selecting immunotherapy and drug treatment for STAD patients. Furthermore, our study has shed light on the potential value of the MATN3 as a promising strategy for combating the progression of STAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qianxia Li
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuanhui Liu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Na Luo
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wenhua Tang
- Department of Oncology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ziqi Chen
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yiling Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Bi Peng
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaohong Peng
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Guangyuan Hu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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2
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Xu J, Hu Z, Dai L, Yadav A, Jiang Y, Bröer A, Gardiner MG, McLeod M, Yan R, Bröer S. Molecular basis of inhibition of the amino acid transporter B 0AT1 (SLC6A19). Nat Commun 2024; 15:7224. [PMID: 39174516 PMCID: PMC11341722 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51748-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The epithelial neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1 (SLC6A19) is the major transporter for the absorption of neutral amino acids in the intestine and their reabsorption in the kidney. Mouse models have demonstrated that lack of B0AT1 can normalize elevated plasma amino acids in rare disorders of amino acid metabolism such as phenylketonuria and urea-cycle disorders, implying a pharmacological approach for their treatment. Here we employ a medicinal chemistry approach to generate B0AT1 inhibitors with IC50-values of 31-90 nM. High-resolution cryo-EM structures of B0AT1 in the presence of two compounds from this series identified an allosteric binding site in the vestibule of the transporter. Mechanistically, binding of these inhibitors prevents a movement of TM1 and TM6 that is required for the transporter to make a conformational change from an outward open state to the occluded state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyang Xu
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ziwei Hu
- Department of Biochemistry, Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, School of Medicine, Institute for Biological Electron Microscopy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu Dai
- Department of Biochemistry, Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, School of Medicine, Institute for Biological Electron Microscopy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Aditya Yadav
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yashan Jiang
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Angelika Bröer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Michael G Gardiner
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Malcolm McLeod
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Renhong Yan
- Department of Biochemistry, Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, School of Medicine, Institute for Biological Electron Microscopy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Stefan Bröer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
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3
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Kumar M, Leekha A, Nandy S, Kulkarni R, Martinez-Paniagua M, Rahman Sefat KMS, Willson RC, Varadarajan N. Enzymatic depletion of circulating glutamine is immunosuppressive in cancers. iScience 2024; 27:109817. [PMID: 38770139 PMCID: PMC11103382 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Although glutamine addiction in cancer cells is extensively reported, there is controversy on the impact of glutamine metabolism on the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). To address the role of extracellular glutamine, we enzymatically depleted circulating glutamine using PEGylated Helicobacter pylori gamma-glutamyl transferase (PEG-GGT) in syngeneic mouse models of breast and colon cancers. PEG-GGT treatment inhibits growth of cancer cells in vitro, but in vivo it increases myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and has no significant impact on tumor growth. By deriving a glutamine depletion signature, we analyze diverse human cancers within the TCGA and illustrate that glutamine depletion is not associated with favorable clinical outcomes and correlates with accumulation of MDSC. Broadly, our results help clarify the integrated impact of glutamine depletion within the TME and advance PEG-GGT as an enzymatic tool for the systemic and selective depletion (no asparaginase activity) of circulating glutamine in live animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monish Kumar
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Ankita Leekha
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Suman Nandy
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Rohan Kulkarni
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Melisa Martinez-Paniagua
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - K. M. Samiur Rahman Sefat
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Richard C. Willson
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Navin Varadarajan
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
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4
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Dong Y, Wang J, Grewer C. Transient kinetics reveal the mechanism of competitive inhibition of the neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107382. [PMID: 38763337 PMCID: PMC11193019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
ASCT2 (alanine serine cysteine transporter 2), a member of the solute carrier 1 family, mediates Na+-dependent exchange of small neutral amino acids across cell membranes. ASCT2 was shown to be highly expressed in tumor cells, making it a promising target for anticancer therapies. In this study, we explored the binding mechanism of the high-affinity competitive inhibitor L-cis hydroxyproline biphenyl ester (Lc-BPE) with ASCT2, using electrophysiological and rapid kinetic methods. Our investigations reveal that Lc-BPE binding requires one or two Na+ ions initially bound to the apo-transporter with high affinity, with Na1 site occupancy being more critical for inhibitor binding. In contrast to the amino acid substrate bound form, the final, third Na+ ion cannot bind, due to distortion of its binding site (Na2), thus preventing the formation of a translocation-competent complex. Based on the rapid kinetic analysis, the application of Lc-BPE generated outward transient currents, indicating that despite its net neutral nature, the binding of Lc-BPE in ASCT2 is weakly electrogenic, most likely because of asymmetric charge distribution within the amino acid moiety of the inhibitor. The preincubation with Lc-BPE also led to a decrease of the turnover rate of substrate exchange and a delay in the activation of substrate-induced anion current, indicating relatively slow Lc-BPE dissociation kinetics. Overall, our results provide new insight into the mechanism of binding of a prototypical competitive inhibitor to the ASCT transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Dong
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Jiali Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Christof Grewer
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA.
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5
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Huang Y, Meng F, Zeng T, Thorne RF, He L, Zha Q, Li H, Liu H, Lang C, Xiong W, Pan S, Yin D, Wu M, Sun X, Liu L. IFRD1 promotes tumor cells "low-cost" survival under glutamine starvation via inhibiting histone H1.0 nucleophagy. Cell Discov 2024; 10:57. [PMID: 38802351 PMCID: PMC11130292 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamine addiction represents a metabolic vulnerability of cancer cells; however, effective therapeutic targeting of the pathways involved remains to be realized. Here, we disclose the critical role of interferon-related developmental regulator 1 (IFRD1) in the adaptive survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells during glutamine starvation. IFRD1 is induced under glutamine starvation to inhibit autophagy by promoting the proteasomal degradation of the key autophagy regulator ATG14 in a TRIM21-dependent manner. Conversely, targeting IFRD1 in the glutamine-deprived state increases autophagy flux, triggering cancer cell exhaustive death. This effect largely results from the nucleophilic degradation of histone H1.0 and the ensuing unchecked increases in ribosome and protein biosynthesis associated with globally enhanced chromatin accessibility. Intriguingly, IFRD1 depletion in preclinical HCC models synergizes with the treatment of the glutaminase-1 selective inhibitor CB-839 to potentiate the effect of limiting glutamine. Together, our findings reveal how IFRD1 supports the adaptive survival of cancer cells under glutamine starvation, further highlighting the potential of IFRD1 as a therapeutic target in anti-cancer applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabin Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fanzheng Meng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Taofei Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rick Francis Thorne
- Translational Research Institute of People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lifang He
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qingrui Zha
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hairui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chuandong Lang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wanxiang Xiong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shixiang Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dalong Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Mian Wu
- Translational Research Institute of People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Xuedan Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Lianxin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Lyda BR, Leary GP, Farnsworth J, Seaver B, Silvius D, Kavanaugh MP, Esslinger CS, Natale NR. Discovery and Synthesis of Hydroxy-l-Proline Blockers of the Neutral Amino Acid Transporters SLC1A4 (ASCT1) and SLC1A5 (ASCT2). Molecules 2024; 29:2330. [PMID: 38792190 PMCID: PMC11123841 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29102330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
As a conformationally restricted amino acid, hydroxy-l-proline is a versatile scaffold for the synthesis of diverse multi-functionalized pyrrolidines for probing the ligand binding sites of biological targets. With the goal to develop new inhibitors of the widely expressed amino acid transporters SLC1A4 and SLC1A5 (also known as ASCT1 and ASCT2), we synthesized and functionally screened synthetic hydroxy-l-proline derivatives using electrophysiological and radiolabeled uptake methods against amino acid transporters from the SLC1, SLC7, and SLC38 solute carrier families. We have discovered a novel class of alkoxy hydroxy-pyrrolidine carboxylic acids (AHPCs) that act as selective high-affinity inhibitors of the SLC1 family neutral amino acid transporters SLC1A4 and SLC1A5. AHPCs were computationally docked into a homology model and assessed with respect to predicted molecular orientation and functional activity. The series of hydroxyproline analogs identified here represent promising new agents to pharmacologically modulate SLC1A4 and SLC1A5 amino acid exchangers which are implicated in numerous pathophysiological processes such as cancer and neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent R. Lyda
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Gregory P. Leary
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Jill Farnsworth
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Benjamin Seaver
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Derek Silvius
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Michael P. Kavanaugh
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - C. Sean Esslinger
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Nicholas R. Natale
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA (B.S.); (D.S.)
- Medicinal Chemistry Graduate Program, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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7
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Novotná K, Tenora L, Slusher BS, Rais R. Therapeutic resurgence of 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) through tissue-targeted prodrugs. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2024; 100:157-180. [PMID: 39034051 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The recognition that rapidly proliferating cancer cells rely heavily on glutamine for their survival and growth has renewed interest in the development of glutamine antagonists for cancer therapy. Glutamine plays a pivotal role as a carbon source for synthesizing lipids and metabolites through the TCA cycle, as well as a nitrogen source for synthesis of amino acid and nucleotides. Numerous studies have explored the significance of glutamine metabolism in cancer, providing a robust rationale for targeting this metabolic pathway in cancer treatment. The glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) has been explored as an anticancer therapeutic for nearly six decades. Initial investigations revealed remarkable efficacy in preclinical studies and promising outcomes in early clinical trials. However, further advancement of DON was hindered due to dose-limiting gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities as the GI system is highly dependent on glutamine for regulating growth and repair. In an effort to repurpose DON and mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity concerns, prodrug strategies were utilized. These strategies aimed to enhance the delivery of DON to specific target tissues, such as tumors and the central nervous system (CNS), while sparing DON delivery to normal tissues, particularly the GI tract. When administered at low daily doses, optimized for metabolic inhibition, these prodrugs exhibit remarkable effectiveness without inducing significant toxicity to normal tissues. This approach holds promise for overcoming past challenges associated with DON, offering an avenue for its successful utilization in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Novotná
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Organic Chemistry, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Tenora
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Organic Chemistry, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbara S Slusher
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Rana Rais
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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8
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Fan Y, Xue H, Li Z, Huo M, Gao H, Guan X. Exploiting the Achilles' heel of cancer: disrupting glutamine metabolism for effective cancer treatment. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1345522. [PMID: 38510646 PMCID: PMC10952006 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1345522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have adapted to rapid tumor growth and evade immune attack by reprogramming their metabolic pathways. Glutamine is an important nitrogen resource for synthesizing amino acids and nucleotides and an important carbon source in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and lipid biosynthesis pathway. In this review, we summarize the significant role of glutamine metabolism in tumor development and highlight the vulnerabilities of targeting glutamine metabolism for effective therapy. In particular, we review the reported drugs targeting glutaminase and glutamine uptake for efficient cancer treatment. Moreover, we discuss the current clinical test about targeting glutamine metabolism and the prospective direction of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Fan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Han Xue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhimin Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Mingge Huo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hongxia Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
| | - Xingang Guan
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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9
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Jakobsen S, Nielsen CU. Exploring Amino Acid Transporters as Therapeutic Targets for Cancer: An Examination of Inhibitor Structures, Selectivity Issues, and Discovery Approaches. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:197. [PMID: 38399253 PMCID: PMC10893028 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Amino acid transporters are abundant amongst the solute carrier family and have an important role in facilitating the transfer of amino acids across cell membranes. Because of their impact on cell nutrient distribution, they also appear to have an important role in the growth and development of cancer. Naturally, this has made amino acid transporters a novel target of interest for the development of new anticancer drugs. Many attempts have been made to develop inhibitors of amino acid transporters to slow down cancer cell growth, and some have even reached clinical trials. The purpose of this review is to help organize the available information on the efforts to discover amino acid transporter inhibitors by focusing on the amino acid transporters ASCT2 (SLC1A5), LAT1 (SLC7A5), xCT (SLC7A11), SNAT1 (SLC38A1), SNAT2 (SLC38A2), and PAT1 (SLC36A1). We discuss the function of the transporters, their implication in cancer, their known inhibitors, issues regarding selective inhibitors, and the efforts and strategies of discovering inhibitors. The goal is to encourage researchers to continue the search and development within the field of cancer treatment research targeting amino acid transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jakobsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Carsten Uhd Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
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10
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Qin L, Cheng X, Wang S, Gong G, Su H, Huang H, Chen T, Damdinjav D, Dorjsuren B, Li Z, Qiu Z, Bian J. Discovery of Novel Aminobutanoic Acid-Based ASCT2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. J Med Chem 2024; 67:988-1007. [PMID: 38217503 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) is up-regulated in lung cancers, and inhibiting it could potentially lead to nutrient deprivation, making it a viable strategy for cancer treatment. In this study, we present a series of ASCT2 inhibitors based on aminobutanoic acids, which exhibit potent inhibitory activity. Two compounds, 20k and 25e, were identified as novel and potent ASCT2 inhibitors, with IC50 values at the micromolar level in both A549 and HEK293 cells, effectively blocking glutamine (Gln) uptake. Additionally, these compounds regulated amino acid metabolism, suppressed mTOR signaling, inhibited non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) growth, and induced apoptosis. In vivo, experiments showed that 20k and 25e suppressed tumor growth in an A549 xenograft model, with tumor growth inhibition (TGI) values of 65 and 70% at 25 mg/kg, respectively, while V9302 only achieved a TGI value of 29%. Furthermore, both compounds demonstrated promising therapeutic potential in patient-derived organoids. Therefore, these ASCT2 inhibitors based on aminobutanoic acids are promising therapeutic agents for treating NSCLC by targeting cancer Gln metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Xinying Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Shijiao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Guangyue Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Huiyan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Huidan Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, P. R. China
| | - Tian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Davaadagva Damdinjav
- School of Pharmacy, Mongolian National University of Medical Science, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Buyankhishig Dorjsuren
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Zhixia Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
| | - Jinlei Bian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211100, P. R. China
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11
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Jakobsen S, Petersen EF, Nielsen CU. Investigations of potential non-amino acid SNAT2 inhibitors. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1302445. [PMID: 38239202 PMCID: PMC10794626 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1302445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2, SLC38A2) has been implicated in cancer for its ability to supply cancer cells with glutamine and sarcosine. A recent high-throughput screen published by Gauthier-Coles et al. identified the non-amino acid 3-(N-methyl (4-methylphenyl)sulfonamido)-N-(2-trifluoromethylbenzyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide (MMTC or 57E) as a potent and selective SNAT2 inhibitor. Here we have investigated the ability of MMTC and four other compounds selected from the screen by Gauthier-Coles et al. to decrease 3H-Gly uptake in hyperosmotically treated human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. In these cells, SNAT2 is highly upregulated when the cells are hyperosmotically stressed for 24 h and is the primary contributor to glycine uptake. The five compounds were investigated at concentrations of 1-50 µM based on their equilibrium solubility. At 37°C the equilibrium solubility in HEPES buffered HBSS at pH 7.4 was measured to be 24.9 (53B), 56.1 (54F), 13.3 (55B), and 27.5 (57B) µM, respectively. The equilibrium solubility of MMTC was below the detection limit of the HPLC-UV method, thus less than 1.8 µM. However, a kinetic solubility of approximately 2.5-10 µM could be achieved during the course of the uptake study. In contrast to the previous publication, MMTC showed no inhibition of SNAT2-mediated 3H-Gly uptake in PC-3 cells at a concentration of 1 or 5 μM, despite a published IC50 of 0.8 µM. Similarly, 53B, 55B, and 57B showed no inhibition at soluble conditions, whereas 54F showed approximately 20% inhibition at 50 µM. In our experimental setup, the investigated compounds showed limited potential as SNAT2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carsten Uhd Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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12
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Li X, Peng X, Li Y, Wei S, He G, Liu J, Li X, Yang S, Li D, Lin W, Fang J, Yang L, Li H. Glutamine addiction in tumor cell: oncogene regulation and clinical treatment. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:12. [PMID: 38172980 PMCID: PMC10763057 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
After undergoing metabolic reprogramming, tumor cells consume additional glutamine to produce amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids, and other substances to facilitate their unlimited proliferation. As such, the metabolism of glutamine is intricately linked to the survival and progression of cancer cells. Consequently, targeting the glutamine metabolism presents a promising strategy to inhibit growth of tumor cell and cancer development. This review describes glutamine uptake, metabolism, and transport in tumor cells and its pivotal role in biosynthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides, and more. Furthermore, we have also summarized the impact of oncogenes like C-MYC, KRAS, HIF, and p53 on the regulation of glutamine metabolism and the mechanisms through which glutamine triggers mTORC1 activation. In addition, role of different anti-cancer agents in targeting glutamine metabolism has been described and their prospective applications are assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xueqiang Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Shibo Wei
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Guangpeng He
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Jiaxing Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Dai Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Weikai Lin
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Jianjun Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
| | - Hangyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
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13
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Du D, Qin M, Shi L, Liu C, Jiang J, Liao Z, Wang H, Zhang Z, Sun L, Fan H, Liu Z, Yu H, Li H, Peng J, Yuan S, Yang M, Xiong J. RNA binding motif protein 45-mediated phosphorylation enhances protein stability of ASCT2 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Oncogene 2023; 42:3127-3141. [PMID: 37658192 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02795-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Targeting metabolic remodeling represents a potentially promising strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. In-depth understanding on the regulation of the glutamine transporter alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) contributes to the development of novel promising therapeutics. As a developmentally regulated RNA binding protein, RBM45 is capable to shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm, and directly interacts with proteins. By bioinformatics analysis, we screened out that RBM45 was elevated in the HCC patient specimens and positively correlated with poor prognosis. RBM45 promoted cell proliferation, boosted xenograft tumorigenicity and accelerated HCC progression. Using untargeted metabolomics, it was found that RBM45 interfered with glutamine metabolism. Further results demonstrated that RBM45 positively associated with ASCT2 in human and mouse specimens. Moreover, RBM45 enhanced ASCT2 protein stability by counteracting autophagy-independent lysosomal degradation. Significantly, wild-type ASCT2, instead of phospho-defective mutants, rescued siRBM45-suppressed HCC cell proliferation. Using molecular docking approaches, we found AG-221, a mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (mIDH2) inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia therapy, pharmacologically perturbed RBM45-ASCT2 interaction, decreased ASCT2 stability and suppressed HCC progression. These findings provide evidence that RBM45 plays a crucial role in HCC progression via interacting with and counteracting the degradation of ASCT2. Our findings suggest a novel alternative structural sites for the design of ASCT2 inhibitors and the agents interfering with RBM45-ASCT2 interaction may be a potential direction for HCC drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyu Du
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Mengyao Qin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Li Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Chan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jingwei Jiang
- Shuangyun BioMed Sci & Tech Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Zhengguang Liao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hongxv Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhibo Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Li Sun
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hui Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhengrui Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Pathology, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongyang Li
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Jun Peng
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Shengtao Yuan
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Mei Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Jing Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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14
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Álvarez-Merz I, Muñoz MD, Hernández-Guijo JM, Solís JM. Identification of Non-excitatory Amino Acids and Transporters Mediating the Irreversible Synaptic Silencing After Hypoxia. Transl Stroke Res 2023:10.1007/s12975-023-01192-y. [PMID: 37755645 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01192-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of excitatory amino acids (AA) to ischemic brain injury has been widely described. In addition, we reported that a mixture of non-excitatory AA at plasmatic concentrations turns irreversible the depression of synaptic transmission caused by hypoxia. Here, we describe that the presence of seven non-excitatory AA (L-alanine, L-glutamine, glycine, L-histidine, L-serine, taurine, and L-threonine) during hypoxia provokes an irreversible neuronal membrane depolarization, after an initial phase of hyperpolarization. The collapse of the membrane potential correlates with a great increase in fiber volley amplitude. Nevertheless, we show that the presence of all seven AA is not necessary to cause the irreversible loss of fEPSP after hypoxia and that the minimal combination of AA able to provoke a solid, replicable effect is the mixture of L-alanine, glycine, L-glutamine, and L-serine. Additionally, L-glutamine seems necessary but insufficient to induce these harmful effects. We also prove that the deleterious effects of the AA mixtures on field potentials during hypoxia depend on both the identity and concentration of the individual AA in the mixture. Furthermore, we find that the accumulation of AA in the whole slice does not determine the outcome caused by the AA mixtures on the synaptic transmission during hypoxia. Finally, results obtained using pharmacological inhibitors and specific substrates of AA transporters suggest that system N and the alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) participate in the non-excitatory AA-mediated deleterious effects during hypoxia. Thus, these AA transporters might represent therapeutical targets for the treatment of brain ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Álvarez-Merz
- Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Dolores Muñoz
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús M Hernández-Guijo
- Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
| | - José M Solís
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
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15
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Liu T, Ren S, Sun C, Zhao P, Wang H. Glutaminolysis and peripheral CD4 + T cell differentiation: from mechanism to intervention strategy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1221530. [PMID: 37545506 PMCID: PMC10401425 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1221530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
To maintain the body's regular immune system, CD4+ T cell homeostasis is crucial, particularly T helper (Th1, Th17) cells and T regulatory (Treg) cells. Abnormally differentiated peripheral CD4+ T cells are responsible for the occurrence and development of numerous diseases, including autoimmune diseases, transplantation rejection, and irritability. Searching for an effective interventional approach to control this abnormal differentiation is therefore especially important. As immunometabolism progressed, the inherent metabolic factors underlying the immune cell differentiation have gradually come to light. Mounting number of studies have revealed that glutaminolysis plays an indelible role in the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. Besides, alterations in the glutaminolysis can also lead to changes in the fate of peripheral CD4+ T cells. All of this indicate that the glutaminolysis pathway has excellent potential for interventional regulation of CD4+ T cells differentiation. Here, we summarized the process by which glutaminolysis regulates the fate of CD4+ T cells during differentiation and further investigated how to reshape abnormal CD4+ T cell differentiation by targeting glutaminolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Shaohua Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Chenglu Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Pengyu Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin General Surgery Institute, Tianjin, China
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16
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Moldovan OL, Sandulea A, Lungu IA, Gâz ȘA, Rusu A. Identification of Some Glutamic Acid Derivatives with Biological Potential by Computational Methods. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28104123. [PMID: 37241864 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28104123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid involved in multiple metabolic pathways. Of high importance is its relationship with glutamine, an essential fuel for cancer cell development. Compounds that can modify glutamine or glutamic acid behaviour in cancer cells have resulted in attractive anticancer therapeutic alternatives. Based on this idea, we theoretically formulated 123 glutamic acid derivatives using Biovia Draw. Suitable candidates for our research were selected among them. For this, online platforms and programs were used to describe specific properties and their behaviour in the human organism. Nine compounds proved to have suitable or easy to optimise properties. The selected compounds showed cytotoxicity against breast adenocarcinoma, lung cancer cell lines, colon carcinoma, and T cells from acute leukaemia. Compound 2Ba5 exhibited the lowest toxicity, and derivative 4Db6 exhibited the most intense bioactivity. Molecular docking studies were also performed. The binding site of the 4Db6 compound in the glutamine synthetase structure was determined, with the D subunit and cluster 1 being the most promising. In conclusion, glutamic acid is an amino acid that can be manipulated very easily. Therefore, molecules derived from its structure have great potential to become innovative drugs, and further research on these will be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavia-Laura Moldovan
- Medicine and Pharmacy Doctoral School, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Alexandra Sandulea
- Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Ioana-Andreea Lungu
- Medicine and Pharmacy Doctoral School, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Șerban Andrei Gâz
- Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Aura Rusu
- Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
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17
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4T1 cell membrane-derived biodegradable nanosystem for comprehensive interruption of cancer cell metabolism. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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18
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Ni R, Li Z, Li L, Peng D, Ming Y, Li L, Liu Y. Rethinking glutamine metabolism and the regulation of glutamine addiction by oncogenes in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1143798. [PMID: 36959802 PMCID: PMC10029103 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1143798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamine, the most abundant non-essential amino acid in human blood, is crucial for cancer cell growth and cancer progression. Glutamine mainly functions as a carbon and nitrogen source for biosynthesis, energy metabolism, and redox homeostasis maintenance in cancer cells. Dysregulated glutamine metabolism is a notable metabolic characteristic of cancer cells. Some carcinogen-driven cancers exhibit a marked dependence on glutamine, also known as glutamine addiction, which has rendered the glutamine metabolic pathway a breakpoint in cancer therapeutics. However, some cancer cells can adapt to the glutamine unavailability by reprogramming metabolism, thus limiting the success of this therapeutic approach. Given the complexity of metabolic networks and the limited impact of inhibiting glutamine metabolism alone, the combination of glutamine metabolism inhibition and other therapeutic methods may outperform corresponding monotherapies in the treatment of cancers. This review summarizes the uptake, transport, and metabolic characteristics of glutamine, as well as the regulation of glutamine dependence by some important oncogenes in various cancers to emphasize the therapeutic potential of targeting glutamine metabolism. Furthermore, we discuss a glutamine metabolic pathway, the glutaminase II pathway, that has been substantially overlooked. Finally, we discuss the applicability of polytherapeutic strategies targeting glutamine metabolism to provide a new perspective on cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Ni
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziwei Li
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dan Peng
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Ming
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of pharmacy, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Li, ; Yao Liu,
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Li, ; Yao Liu,
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19
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Kao TW, Chuang YC, Lee HL, Kuo CC, Shen YA. Therapeutic Targeting of Glutaminolysis as a Novel Strategy to Combat Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315296. [PMID: 36499623 PMCID: PMC9737183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rare subpopulations of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the ability to self-renew and are the primary driving force behind cancer metastatic dissemination and the preeminent hurdle to cancer treatment. As opposed to differentiated, non-malignant tumor offspring, CSCs have sophisticated metabolic patterns that, depending on the kind of cancer, rely mostly on the oxidation of major fuel substrates such as glucose, glutamine, and fatty acids for survival. Glutaminolysis is a series of metabolic reactions that convert glutamine to glutamate and, eventually, α-ketoglutarate, an intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that provides biosynthetic building blocks. These building blocks are mostly utilized in the synthesis of macromolecules and antioxidants for redox homeostasis. A recent study revealed the cellular and molecular interconnections between glutamine and cancer stemness in the cell. Researchers have increasingly focused on glutamine catabolism in their attempt to discover an effective therapy for cancer stem cells. Targeting catalytic enzymes in glutaminolysis, such as glutaminase (GLS), is achievable with small molecule inhibitors, some of which are in early-phase clinical trials and have promising safety profiles. This review summarizes the current findings in glutaminolysis of CSCs and focuses on novel cancer therapies that target glutaminolysis in CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Wan Kao
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Chen Chuang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Lun Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- Taipei Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chun Kuo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- School of Health Care Administration, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yao-An Shen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- International Master/Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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20
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Zhao J, Lv J, Chen Y, Dong Q, Dong H. Recent progress of amino acid transporters as a novel antitumor target. OPEN CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/chem-2022-0239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Glutamine transporters transport different amino acids for cell growth and metabolism. In tumor cells, glutamine transporters are often highly expressed and play a crucial role in their growth. By inhibiting the amino acid transport of these transporters, the growth of cancer cells can be inhibited. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the study of glutamine transporter. In this article, the differences between the ASC system amino acid transporter 2 (ASCT2), L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), and the cystine–glutamate exchange (xCT) transporters research progress on the mechanism of action and corresponding small molecule inhibitors are summarized. This article introduces 62 related small molecule inhibitors of different transporters of ASCT2, LAT1, and xCT. These novel chemical structures provide ideas for the research and design of targeted inhibitors of glutamine transporters, as well as important references and clues for the design of new anti-tumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiye Zhao
- Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, School of Teacher Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University , No. 3601 Hongjing Avenue, Jiangning District , Nanjing 211171 , China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University , No. 639 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District , Nanjing 211198 , China
| | - Jiayi Lv
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University , No. 639 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District , Nanjing 211198 , China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University , No. 639 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District , Nanjing 211198 , China
| | - Qile Dong
- Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, School of Teacher Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University , No. 3601 Hongjing Avenue, Jiangning District , Nanjing 211171 , China
| | - Hao Dong
- Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, School of Teacher Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University , No. 3601 Hongjing Avenue, Jiangning District , Nanjing 211171 , China
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21
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Gauthier-Coles G, Bröer A, McLeod MD, George AJ, Hannan RD, Bröer S. Identification and characterization of a novel SNAT2 (SLC38A2) inhibitor reveals synergy with glucose transport inhibition in cancer cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:963066. [PMID: 36210829 PMCID: PMC9532951 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.963066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SNAT2 (SLC38A2) is a sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter, which is important for the accumulation of amino acids as nutrients, the maintenance of cellular osmolarity, and the activation of mTORC1. It also provides net glutamine for glutaminolysis and consequently presents as a potential target to treat cancer. A high-throughput screening assay was developed to identify new inhibitors of SNAT2 making use of the inducible nature of SNAT2 and its electrogenic mechanism. Using an optimized FLIPR membrane potential (FMP) assay, a curated scaffold library of 33934 compounds was screened to identify 3-(N-methyl (4-methylphenyl)sulfonamido)-N-(2-trifluoromethylbenzyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide as a potent inhibitor of SNAT2. In two different assays an IC50 of 0.8–3 µM was determined. The compound discriminated against the close transporter homologue SNAT1. MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and HPAFII pancreatic cancer cell lines tolerated the SNAT2 inhibitor up to a concentration of 100 µM but in combination with tolerable doses of the glucose transport inhibitor Bay-876, proliferative growth of both cell lines was halted. This points to synergy between inhibition of glycolysis and glutaminolysis in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Gauthier-Coles
- Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Angelika Bröer
- Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Malcolm Donald McLeod
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Amee J. George
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ross D. Hannan
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stefan Bröer
- Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- *Correspondence: Stefan Bröer,
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22
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Impact of Inhibition of Glutamine and Alanine Transport on Cerebellar Glial and Neuronal Metabolism. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091189. [PMID: 36139028 PMCID: PMC9496060 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum, or “little brain”, is often overlooked in studies of brain metabolism in favour of the cortex. Despite this, anomalies in cerebellar amino acid homeostasis in a range of disorders have been reported. Amino acid homeostasis is central to metabolism, providing recycling of carbon backbones and ammonia between cell types. Here, we examined the role of cerebellar amino acid transporters in the cycling of glutamine and alanine in guinea pig cerebellar slices by inhibiting amino acid transporters and examining the resultant metabolism of [1-13C]d-glucose and [1,2-13C]acetate by NMR spectroscopy and LCMS. While the lack of specific inhibitors of each transporter makes interpretation difficult, by viewing results from experiments with multiple inhibitors we can draw inferences about the major cell types and transporters involved. In cerebellum, glutamine and alanine transfer is dominated by system A, blockade of which has maximum effect on metabolism, with contributions from System N. Inhibition of neural system A isoform SNAT1 by MeAIB resulted in greatly decreased metabolite pools and reduced net fluxes but showed little effect on fluxes from [1,2-13C]acetate unlike inhibition of SNAT3 and other glutamine transporters by histidine where net fluxes from [1,2-13C]acetate are reduced by ~50%. We interpret the data as further evidence of not one but several glutamate/glutamine exchange pools. The impact of amino acid transport inhibition demonstrates that the cerebellum has tightly coupled cells and that glutamate/glutamine, as well as alanine cycling, play a major role in that part of the brain.
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23
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Freidman NJ, Briot C, Ryan RM. Characterizing unexpected interactions of a glutamine transporter inhibitor with members of the SLC1A transporter family. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102178. [PMID: 35752361 PMCID: PMC9293768 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The solute carrier 1A family comprises a group of membrane proteins that act as dual-function amino acid transporters and chloride (Cl-) channels and includes the alanine serine cysteine transporters (ASCTs) as well as the excitatory amino acid transporters. ASCT2 is regarded as a promising target for cancer therapy, as it can transport glutamine and other neutral amino acids into cells and is upregulated in a range of solid tumors. The compound L-γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (GPNA) is widely used in studies probing the role of ASCT2 in cancer biology; however, the mechanism by which GPNA inhibits ASCT2 is not entirely clear. Here, we used electrophysiology and radiolabelled flux assays to demonstrate that GPNA activates the Cl- conductance of ASCT2 to the same extent as a transported substrate, whilst not undergoing the full transport cycle. This is a previously unreported phenomenon for inhibitors of the solute carrier 1A family but corroborates a body of literature suggesting that the structural requirements for transport are distinct from those for Cl- channel formation. We also show that in addition to its currently known targets, GPNA inhibits several of the excitatory amino acid transporters. Together, these findings raise questions about the true mechanisms of its anticancer effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha J Freidman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chelsea Briot
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Renae M Ryan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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24
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Huttunen J, Adla SK, Markowicz-Piasecka M, Huttunen KM. Increased/Targeted Brain (Pro)Drug Delivery via Utilization of Solute Carriers (SLCs). Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061234. [PMID: 35745806 PMCID: PMC9228667 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane transporters have a crucial role in compounds’ brain drug delivery. They allow not only the penetration of a wide variety of different compounds to cross the endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), but also the accumulation of them into the brain parenchymal cells. Solute carriers (SLCs), with nearly 500 family members, are the largest group of membrane transporters. Unfortunately, not all SLCs are fully characterized and used in rational drug design. However, if the structural features for transporter interactions (binding and translocation) are known, a prodrug approach can be utilized to temporarily change the pharmacokinetics and brain delivery properties of almost any compound. In this review, main transporter subtypes that are participating in brain drug disposition or have been used to improve brain drug delivery across the BBB via the prodrug approach, are introduced. Moreover, the ability of selected transporters to be utilized in intrabrain drug delivery is discussed. Thus, this comprehensive review will give insights into the methods, such as computational drug design, that should be utilized more effectively to understand the detailed transport mechanisms. Moreover, factors, such as transporter expression modulation pathways in diseases that should be taken into account in rational (pro)drug development, are considered to achieve successful clinical applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Huttunen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; (J.H.); (S.K.A.)
| | - Santosh Kumar Adla
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; (J.H.); (S.K.A.)
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB), Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Namesti 542/2, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Magdalena Markowicz-Piasecka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Radiopharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Kristiina M. Huttunen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; (J.H.); (S.K.A.)
- Correspondence:
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25
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Kubik J, Humeniuk E, Adamczuk G, Madej-Czerwonka B, Korga-Plewko A. Targeting Energy Metabolism in Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105572. [PMID: 35628385 PMCID: PMC9146201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. The development of molecular and biochemical techniques has expanded the knowledge of changes occurring in specific metabolic pathways of cancer cells. Increased aerobic glycolysis, the promotion of anaplerotic responses, and especially the dependence of cells on glutamine and fatty acid metabolism have become subjects of study. Despite many cancer treatment strategies, many patients with neoplastic diseases cannot be completely cured due to the development of resistance in cancer cells to currently used therapeutic approaches. It is now becoming a priority to develop new treatment strategies that are highly effective and have few side effects. In this review, we present the current knowledge of the enzymes involved in the different steps of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway, and possible targeted therapies. The review also focuses on presenting the differences between cancer cells and normal cells in terms of metabolic phenotype. Knowledge of cancer cell metabolism is constantly evolving, and further research is needed to develop new strategies for anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kubik
- Independent Medical Biology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (G.A.); (A.K.-P.)
| | - Ewelina Humeniuk
- Independent Medical Biology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (G.A.); (A.K.-P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-448-65-20
| | - Grzegorz Adamczuk
- Independent Medical Biology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (G.A.); (A.K.-P.)
| | - Barbara Madej-Czerwonka
- Human Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Korga-Plewko
- Independent Medical Biology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (G.A.); (A.K.-P.)
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26
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Yu W, Huang J, Dong Q, Li W, Jiang L, Zhang Q, Sun L, Yuan S, He X. Ag120-Mediated Inhibition of ASCT2-Dependent Glutamine Transport has an Anti-Tumor Effect on Colorectal Cancer Cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:871392. [PMID: 35418865 PMCID: PMC8996072 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.871392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is considered to be a hallmark of cancer, and increased glutamine metabolism plays an important role in the progression of many tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Targeting of glutamine uptake via the transporter protein ASCT2/SLC1A5 (solute carrier family 1 member 5) is considered to be an effective strategy for the treatment of malignant tumors. Here, we demonstrate that Ag120 (ivosidenib), a mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) inhibitor approved for the treatment of certain cancers, acts as an ASCT2 inhibitor in CRC cells. Ag120 blocked glutamine uptake and metabolism, leading to reduced cell proliferation, elevated autophagy, and increased oxidative stress in CRC cells in vitro and in vivo, potentially via the ERK and mTOR signaling pathways. These effects occurred independently of mutant IDH1 activity and were supported by experiments with ASCT2-depleted or -overexpressing cells. These data identify a novel mechanism of Ag120 anti-tumor activity and support further exploration of ASCT2 inhibitors for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yu
- Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianwen Huang
- Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Qichao Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, China
| | - Wenting Li
- Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengtao Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu He
- Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
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27
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Understanding Molecular Mechanisms of Phenotype Switching and Crosstalk with TME to Reveal New Vulnerabilities of Melanoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071157. [PMID: 35406721 PMCID: PMC8997563 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma cells are notorious for their high plasticity and ability to switch back and forth between various melanoma cell states, enabling the adaptation to sub-optimal conditions and therapeutics. This phenotypic plasticity, which has gained more attention in cancer research, is proposed as a new paradigm for melanoma progression. In this review, we provide a detailed and deep comprehensive recapitulation of the complex spectrum of phenotype switching in melanoma, the key regulator factors, the various and new melanoma states, and corresponding signatures. We also present an extensive description of the role of epigenetic modifications (chromatin remodeling, methylation, and activities of long non-coding RNAs/miRNAs) and metabolic rewiring in the dynamic switch. Furthermore, we elucidate the main role of the crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and oxidative stress in the regulation of the phenotype switching. Finally, we discuss in detail several rational therapeutic approaches, such as exploiting phenotype-specific and metabolic vulnerabilities and targeting components and signals of the TME, to improve the response of melanoma patients to treatments.
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28
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Silva C, Andrade N, Rodrigues I, Ferreira AC, Soares ML, Martel F. The pro-proliferative effect of interferon-γ in breast cancer cell lines is dependent on stimulation of ASCT2-mediated glutamine cellular uptake. Life Sci 2021; 286:120054. [PMID: 34662550 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for breast cancer initiation and progression. Glutamine (GLN) is a critical nutrient for cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of T2DM-associated compounds upon GLN uptake by breast cancer cells. MAIN METHODS The in vitro uptake of 3H-GLN by breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and non-tumorigenic (MCF-12A) cell lines was measured. KEY FINDINGS 3H-GLN uptake in the three cell lines is mainly Na+-dependent and sensitive to the ASCT2 inhibitor GPNA. IFN-γ increased total and Na+-dependent 3H-GLN uptake in the two breast cancer cell lines, and insulin increased total and Na+-dependent 3H-GLN uptake in the non-tumorigenic cell line. GPNA abolished the increase in 3H-GLN uptake promoted by these T2DM-associated compounds. ASCT2 knockdown confirmed that the increase in 3H-GLN uptake caused by IFN-γ (in breast cancer cells) and by insulin (in non-tumorigenic cells) is ASCT2-dependent. IFN-γ (in MDA-MB-231 cells) and insulin (in MCF-12A cells) increased ASCT2 transcript and protein levels. Importantly, the pro-proliferative effect of IFN-γ in breast cancer cell lines was associated with an increase in 3H-GLN uptake which was GPNA-sensitive, blocked by ASCT2 knockdown and mediated by activation of the PI3K-, STAT3- and STAT1 intracellular signalling pathways. SIGNIFICANCE IFN-γ and insulin possess pro-proliferative effects in breast cancer and non-cancer cell lines, respectively, which are dependent on an increase in ASCT2-mediated glutamine transport. Thus, an effective inhibition of ASCT2-mediated glutamine uptake may be a therapeutic strategy against human breast cancer in T2DM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Silva
- Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nelson Andrade
- Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; REQUIMTE/LAQV, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Ilda Rodrigues
- Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - António Carlos Ferreira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Laboratório de Apoio à Investigação em Medicina Molecular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Luz Soares
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Laboratório de Apoio à Investigação em Medicina Molecular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Martel
- Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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29
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Honda Y, Nomoto T, Takemoto H, Matsui M, Taniwaki K, Guo H, Miura Y, Nishiyama N. Systemically Applicable Glutamine-Functionalized Polymer Exerting Multivalent Interaction with Tumors Overexpressing ASCT2. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:7402-7407. [PMID: 35006695 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transporter ASCT2, which predominantly imports glutamine (Gln), is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells, and targeting ASCT2 is expected to be a promising approach for tumor diagnosis and therapy. In this work, we designed a series of glutamine-modified poly(l-lysine) (PLys(Gln)) homopolymers and PEG-PLys(Gln) block copolymers and investigated their tumor-targeting abilities. With increasing degree of polymerization in the PLys(Gln) homopolymers, their cellular uptake was gradually enhanced through multivalent interactions with ASCT2. The performance of PEG-PLys(Gln) in blood circulation and tumor accumulation could be controlled by tuning of the molecular weight of PEG. Our results highlight the utility of molecular recognition in ASCT2/PLys(Gln) for tumor targeting through systemic administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Honda
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nomoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Takemoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Makoto Matsui
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Kaori Taniwaki
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Haochen Guo
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Yutaka Miura
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nishiyama
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.,Innovation Center of Nanomedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0821, Japan
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30
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Scalise M, Console L, Cosco J, Pochini L, Galluccio M, Indiveri C. ASCT1 and ASCT2: Brother and Sister? SLAS DISCOVERY 2021; 26:1148-1163. [PMID: 34269129 DOI: 10.1177/24725552211030288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The SLC1 family includes seven members divided into two groups, namely, EAATs and ASCTs, that share similar 3D architecture; the first one includes high-affinity glutamate transporters, and the second one includes SLC1A4 and SLC1A5, known as ASCT1 and ASCT2, respectively, responsible for the traffic of neutral amino acids across the cell plasma membrane. The physiological role of ASCT1 and ASCT2 has been investigated over the years, revealing different properties in terms of substrate specificities, affinities, and regulation by physiological effectors and posttranslational modifications. Furthermore, ASCT1 and ASCT2 are involved in pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. This has driven research in the pharmaceutical field aimed to find drugs able to target the two proteins.This review focuses on structural, functional, and regulatory aspects of ASCT1 and ASCT2, highlighting similarities and differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariafrancesca Scalise
- Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Lara Console
- Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Jessica Cosco
- Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Lorena Pochini
- Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Michele Galluccio
- Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Cesare Indiveri
- Department DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.,CNR Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnology (IBIOM), Bari, Italy
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Schmidt DR, Patel R, Kirsch DG, Lewis CA, Vander Heiden MG, Locasale JW. Metabolomics in cancer research and emerging applications in clinical oncology. CA Cancer J Clin 2021; 71:333-358. [PMID: 33982817 PMCID: PMC8298088 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 101.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has myriad effects on metabolism that include both rewiring of intracellular metabolism to enable cancer cells to proliferate inappropriately and adapt to the tumor microenvironment, and changes in normal tissue metabolism. With the recognition that fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography imaging is an important tool for the management of many cancers, other metabolites in biological samples have been in the spotlight for cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Metabolomics is the global analysis of small molecule metabolites that like other -omics technologies can provide critical information about the cancer state that are otherwise not apparent. Here, the authors review how cancer and cancer therapies interact with metabolism at the cellular and systemic levels. An overview of metabolomics is provided with a focus on currently available technologies and how they have been applied in the clinical and translational research setting. The authors also discuss how metabolomics could be further leveraged in the future to improve the management of patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Schmidt
- Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Rutulkumar Patel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - David G. Kirsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708 USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Caroline A. Lewis
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Matthew G. Vander Heiden
- Koch Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jason W. Locasale
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
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32
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Shen YA, Chen CL, Huang YH, Evans EE, Cheng CC, Chuang YJ, Zhang C, Le A. Inhibition of glutaminolysis in combination with other therapies to improve cancer treatment. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 62:64-81. [PMID: 33721588 PMCID: PMC8570367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Targeting glutamine catabolism has been attracting more research attention on the development of successful cancer therapy. Catalytic enzymes such as glutaminase (GLS) in glutaminolysis, a series of biochemical reactions by which glutamine is converted to glutamate and then alpha-ketoglutarate, an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, can be targeted by small molecule inhibitors, some of which are undergoing early phase clinical trials and exhibiting promising safety profiles. However, resistance to glutaminolysis targeting treatments has been observed, necessitating the development of treatments to combat this resistance. One option is to use synergy drug combinations, which improve tumor chemotherapy's effectiveness and diminish drug resistance and side effects. This review will focus on studies involving the glutaminolysis pathway and diverse combination therapies with therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-An Shen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; International Master/Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Long Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; International Master/Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Emily Elizabeth Evans
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chia Cheng
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Jie Chuang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Cissy Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anne Le
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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33
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Crump NT, Hadjinicolaou AV, Xia M, Walsby-Tickle J, Gileadi U, Chen JL, Setshedi M, Olsen LR, Lau IJ, Godfrey L, Quek L, Yu Z, Ballabio E, Barnkob MB, Napolitani G, Salio M, Koohy H, Kessler BM, Taylor S, Vyas P, McCullagh JSO, Milne TA, Cerundolo V. Chromatin accessibility governs the differential response of cancer and T cells to arginine starvation. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109101. [PMID: 33979616 PMCID: PMC8131582 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Depleting the microenvironment of important nutrients such as arginine is a key strategy for immune evasion by cancer cells. Many tumors overexpress arginase, but it is unclear how these cancers, but not T cells, tolerate arginine depletion. In this study, we show that tumor cells synthesize arginine from citrulline by upregulating argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1). Under arginine starvation, ASS1 transcription is induced by ATF4 and CEBPβ binding to an enhancer within ASS1. T cells cannot induce ASS1, despite the presence of active ATF4 and CEBPβ, as the gene is repressed. Arginine starvation drives global chromatin compaction and repressive histone methylation, which disrupts ATF4/CEBPβ binding and target gene transcription. We find that T cell activation is impaired in arginine-depleted conditions, with significant metabolic perturbation linked to incomplete chromatin remodeling and misregulation of key genes. Our results highlight a T cell behavior mediated by nutritional stress, exploited by cancer cells to enable pathological immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Crump
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Andreas V Hadjinicolaou
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Meng Xia
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - John Walsby-Tickle
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Uzi Gileadi
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Ji-Li Chen
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Mashiko Setshedi
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Lars R Olsen
- Section for Bioinformatics, DTU Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - I-Jun Lau
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Laura Godfrey
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Lynn Quek
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, SGDP Centre, Memory Lane, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Zhanru Yu
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Erica Ballabio
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Mike B Barnkob
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Giorgio Napolitani
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Mariolina Salio
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Hashem Koohy
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Stephen Taylor
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Paresh Vyas
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - James S O McCullagh
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Thomas A Milne
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Haematology Theme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
| | - Vincenzo Cerundolo
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
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Teixeira E, Silva C, Martel F. The role of the glutamine transporter ASCT2 in antineoplastic therapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 87:447-464. [PMID: 33464409 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-020-04218-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells are metabolically reprogrammed to support their high rates of proliferation, continuous growth, survival, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to cancer treatments. Among changes in cancer cell bioenergetics, the role of glutamine metabolism has been receiving increasing attention. Increased glutaminolysis in cancer cells is associated with increased expression of membrane transporters that mediate the cellular uptake of glutamine. ASCT2 (Alanine, Serine, Cysteine Transporter 2) is a Na+-dependent transmembrane transporter overexpressed in cancer cells and considered to be the primary transporter for glutamine in these cells. The possibility of inhibiting ASCT2 for antineoplastic therapy is currently under investigation. In this article, we will present the pharmacological agents currently known to act on ASCT2, which have been attracting attention in antineoplastic therapy research. We will also address the impact of ASCT2 inhibition on the prognosis of some cancers. We conclude that ASCT2 inhibition and combination of ASCT2 inhibitors with other anti-tumor therapies may be a promising antineoplastic strategy. However, more research is needed in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefânia Teixeira
- Department of Biomedicine, Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Silva
- Department of Biomedicine, Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Martel
- Department of Biomedicine, Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
- Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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35
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Wang H, Cheng Y, Mao C, Liu S, Xiao D, Huang J, Tao Y. Emerging mechanisms and targeted therapy of ferroptosis in cancer. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2185-2208. [PMID: 33794363 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an iron- and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent form of programmed cell death that is distinct from other forms of regulatory cell death at the morphological, biological, and genetic levels. Emerging evidence suggests critical roles for ferroptosis in cell metabolism, the redox status, and various diseases, such as cancers, nervous system diseases, and ischemia-reperfusion injury, with ferroptosis-related proteins. Ferroptosis is inhibited in diverse cancer types and functions as a dynamic tumor suppressor in cancer development, indicating that the regulation of ferroptosis can be utilized as an interventional target for tumor treatment. Small molecules and nanomaterials that reprogram cancer cells to undergo ferroptosis are considered effective drugs for cancer therapy. Here, we systematically summarize the molecular basis of ferroptosis, the suppressive effect of ferroptosis on tumors, the effect of ferroptosis on cellular metabolism and the tumor microenvironment (TME), and ferroptosis-inducing agents for tumor therapeutics. An understanding of the latest progress in ferroptosis could provide references for proposing new potential targets for the treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Central South University, Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Chao Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Central South University, Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Central South University, Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precision Therapy, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
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36
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Shen L, Sharma D, Yu Y, Long F, Karner CM. Biphasic regulation of glutamine consumption by WNT during osteoblast differentiation. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:jcs251645. [PMID: 33262314 PMCID: PMC7823158 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.251645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoblasts are the principal bone-forming cells. As such, osteoblasts have enhanced demand for amino acids to sustain high rates of matrix synthesis associated with bone formation. The precise systems utilized by osteoblasts to meet these synthetic demands are not well understood. WNT signaling is known to rapidly stimulate glutamine uptake during osteoblast differentiation. Using a cell biology approach, we identified two amino acid transporters, γ(+)-LAT1 and ASCT2 (encoded by Slc7a7 and Slc1a5, respectively), as the primary transporters of glutamine in response to WNT. ASCT2 mediates the majority of glutamine uptake, whereas γ(+)-LAT1 mediates the rapid increase in glutamine uptake in response to WNT. Mechanistically, WNT signals through the canonical β-catenin (CTNNB1)-dependent pathway to rapidly induce Slc7a7 expression. Conversely, Slc1a5 expression is regulated by the transcription factor ATF4 downstream of the mTORC1 pathway. Targeting either Slc1a5 or Slc7a7 using shRNA reduced WNT-induced glutamine uptake and prevented osteoblast differentiation. Collectively, these data highlight the critical nature of glutamine transport for WNT-induced osteoblast differentiation.This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyao Shen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Deepika Sharma
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yilin Yu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Fanxin Long
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Courtney M Karner
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Lopes C, Pereira C, Medeiros R. ASCT2 and LAT1 Contribution to the Hallmarks of Cancer: From a Molecular Perspective to Clinical Translation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E203. [PMID: 33429909 PMCID: PMC7828050 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the amino acid transporters ASCT2 and LAT1 in cancer has been explored throughout the years. In this review, we report their impact on the hallmarks of cancer, as well as their clinical significance. Overall, both proteins have been associated with cell death resistance through dysregulation of caspases and sustainment of proliferative signaling through mTOR activation. Furthermore, ASCT2 appears to play an important role in cellular energetics regulation, whereas LAT1 expression is associated with angiogenesis and invasion and metastasis activation. The molecular impact of these proteins on the hallmarks of cancer translates into various clinical applications and both transporters have been identified as prognostic factors in many types of cancer. Concerning their role as therapeutic targets, efforts have been undertaken to synthesize competitive or irreversible ASCT2 and LAT1 inhibitors. However, JHP203, a selective inhibitor of the latter, is, to the best of our knowledge, the only compound included in a Phase 1 clinical trial. In conclusion, considering the usefulness of ASCT2 and LAT1 in a variety of cancer-related pathways and cancer therapy/diagnosis, the development and testing of novel inhibitors for these transporters that could be evaluated in clinical trials represents a promising approach to cancer prognosis improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Lopes
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (C.L.); (R.M.)
| | - Carina Pereira
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (C.L.); (R.M.)
- CINTESIS—Center for Health Technology and Services Research, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (C.L.); (R.M.)
- Research Department of the Portuguese League Against Cancer—North (LPCC-NRNorte), Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-177 Porto, Portugal
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The Harmonious Interplay of Amino Acid and Monocarboxylate Transporters Induces the Robustness of Cancer Cells. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11010027. [PMID: 33401672 PMCID: PMC7823946 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence that metabolic reprogramming contributes to the acquisition and maintenance of robustness associated with malignancy. The fine regulation of expression levels of amino acid and monocarboxylate transporters enables cancer cells to exhibit the metabolic reprogramming that is responsible for therapeutic resistance. Amino acid transporters characterized by xCT (SLC7A11), ASCT2 (SLC1A5), and LAT1 (SLC7A5) function in the uptake and export of amino acids such as cystine and glutamine, thereby regulating glutathione synthesis, autophagy, and glutaminolysis. CD44 variant, a cancer stem-like cell marker, stabilizes the xCT antiporter at the cellular membrane, and tumor cells positive for xCT and/or ASCT2 are susceptible to sulfasalazine, a system Xc(-) inhibitor. Inhibiting the interaction between LAT1 and CD98 heavy chain prevents activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 by glutamine and leucine. mTOR signaling regulated by LAT1 is a sensor of dynamic alterations in the nutrient tumor microenvironment. LAT1 is overexpressed in various malignancies and positively correlated with poor clinical outcome. Metabolic reprogramming of glutamine occurs often in cancer cells and manifests as ASCT2-mediated glutamine addiction. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) mediate metabolic symbiosis, by which lactate in cancer cells under hypoxia is exported through MCT4 and imported by MCT1 in less hypoxic regions, where it is used as an oxidative metabolite. Differential expression patterns of transporters cause functional intratumoral heterogeneity leading to the therapeutic resistance. Therefore, metabolic reprogramming based on these transporters may be a promising therapeutic target. This review highlights the pathological function and therapeutic targets of transporters including xCT, ASCT2, LAT1, and MCT.
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Targeting Metabolic Cross Talk Between Cancer Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1311:205-214. [PMID: 34014545 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65768-0_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although cancer has classically been regarded as a genetic disease of uncontrolled cell growth, the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) [1, 2] is continuously emphasized by the accumulating evidence that cancer growth is not simply dependent on the cancer cells themselves [3, 4] but also dependent on angiogenesis [5-8], inflammation [9, 10], and the supporting roles of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) [11-13]. After the discovery that CAFs are able to remodel the tumor matrix within the TME and provide the nutrients and chemicals to promote cancer cell growth [14], many studies have aimed to uncover the cross talk between cancer cells and CAFs. Moreover, a new paradigm in cancer metabolism shows how cancer cells act like "metabolic parasites" to take up the high-energy metabolites, such as lactate, ketone bodies, free fatty acids, and glutamine from supporting cells, including CAFs and cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) [15, 16]. This chapter provides an overview of the metabolic coupling between CAFs and cancer cells to further define the therapeutic options to disrupt the CAF-cancer cell interactions.
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40
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Cardoso HJ, Carvalho TMA, Fonseca LRS, Figueira MI, Vaz CV, Socorro S. Revisiting prostate cancer metabolism: From metabolites to disease and therapy. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:1499-1538. [PMID: 33274768 DOI: 10.1002/med.21766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa), one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide, still presents important unmet clinical needs concerning treatment. In the last years, the metabolic reprogramming and the specificities of tumor cells emerged as an exciting field for cancer therapy. The unique features of PCa cells metabolism, and the activation of specific metabolic pathways, propelled the use of metabolic inhibitors for treatment. The present work revises the knowledge of PCa metabolism and the metabolic alterations that underlie the development and progression of the disease. A focus is given to the role of bioenergetic sources, namely, glucose, lipids, and glutamine sustaining PCa cell survival and growth. Moreover, it is described as the action of oncogenes/tumor suppressors and sex steroid hormones in the metabolic reprogramming of PCa. Finally, the status of PCa treatment based on the inhibition of metabolic pathways is presented. Globally, this review updates the landscape of PCa metabolism, highlighting the critical metabolic alterations that could have a clinical and therapeutic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique J Cardoso
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Tiago M A Carvalho
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Lara R S Fonseca
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Marília I Figueira
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Cátia V Vaz
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Socorro
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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41
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Zhou P, Liang X, Zhou C, Qin J, Hou C, Zhu Z, Zhang W, Wang S, Zhong D. Glutamine-β-cyclodextrin for targeted doxorubicin delivery to triple-negative breast cancer tumors via the transporter ASCT2. J Mater Chem B 2020; 7:5363-5375. [PMID: 31403158 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb01225g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is the primary therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the tumor-targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs is necessary to minimize their side effects on normal tissues. TNBC cells display addictions to glutamine in culture, and the levels of the glutamine transporter, alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2), are elevated in many types of cancer. However, glutamine- or ASCT2-based carriers have not been used in tumor-targeted drug delivery. In this study, a novel derivative of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), glutamine-β-cyclodextrin (GLN-CD), was developed by conjugating glutamine with the 6-hydroxy of β-CD, and GLN-CD was then used to prepare doxorubicin (DOX) inclusion complexes (DOX@GLN-CD) for TNBC treatment. GLN-CD and glutamine have similar ASCT2-binding sites, and GLN-CD has the potential to enter cells through ASCT2-dependent facilitated diffusion. An increase in the degree of substitution did not promote binding between GLN-CD and ASCT2. GLN-CD and DOX formed inclusion complexes at a molar ratio of 1 : 1. DOX@GLN-CD specifically accumulated in TNBC cells, including MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells, where it subsequently induced G2/M blockade and apoptosis, but hardly affected nontumorigenic MCF10A cells. l-γ-Glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (GPNA), which is a specific inhibitor of ASCT2, antagonistically decreased the cellular uptake of DOX@GLN-CD by TNBC cells, which further confirmed the role of ASCT2 in DOX@GLN-CD transport. In vivo, DOX@GLN-CD accumulated specifically in tumors, achieved improved outcomes and minimized the toxic effects on main organs at the same dose as DOX. As a novel derivative of β-CD, GLN-CD is an effective carrier that can specifically deliver DOX to TNBC cells via targeting ASCT2 and minimize its uptake by normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhou
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy of Tianjin, Tianjin 300060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingmei Liang
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, No. 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300051, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ce Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiaqi Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunyu Hou
- The Center for Translational Cancer Research, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyan Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenxue Zhang
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, No. 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300051, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shuqing Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Diansheng Zhong
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, No. 154 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300051, People's Republic of China.
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Yoo HC, Yu YC, Sung Y, Han JM. Glutamine reliance in cell metabolism. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:1496-1516. [PMID: 32943735 PMCID: PMC8080614 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00504-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 430] [Impact Index Per Article: 107.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As knowledge of cell metabolism has advanced, glutamine has been considered an important amino acid that supplies carbon and nitrogen to fuel biosynthesis. A recent study provided a new perspective on mitochondrial glutamine metabolism, offering mechanistic insights into metabolic adaptation during tumor hypoxia, the emergence of drug resistance, and glutaminolysis-induced metabolic reprogramming and presenting metabolic strategies to target glutamine metabolism in cancer cells. In this review, we introduce the various biosynthetic and bioenergetic roles of glutamine based on the compartmentalization of glutamine metabolism to explain why cells exhibit metabolic reliance on glutamine. Additionally, we examined whether glutamine derivatives contribute to epigenetic regulation associated with tumorigenesis. In addition, in discussing glutamine transporters, we propose a metabolic target for therapeutic intervention in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Chan Yoo
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, South Korea
| | - Ya Chun Yu
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, South Korea
| | - Yulseung Sung
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, South Korea
| | - Jung Min Han
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, South Korea.
- Department of Integrated OMICS for Biomedical Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
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Bröer S. Amino Acid Transporters as Targets for Cancer Therapy: Why, Where, When, and How. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176156. [PMID: 32859034 PMCID: PMC7503255 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acids are indispensable for the growth of cancer cells. This includes essential amino acids, the carbon skeleton of which cannot be synthesized, and conditionally essential amino acids, for which the metabolic demands exceed the capacity to synthesize them. Moreover, amino acids are important signaling molecules regulating metabolic pathways, protein translation, autophagy, defense against reactive oxygen species, and many other functions. Blocking uptake of amino acids into cancer cells is therefore a viable strategy to reduce growth. A number of studies have used genome-wide silencing or knock-out approaches, which cover all known amino acid transporters in a large variety of cancer cell lines. In this review, these studies are interrogated together with other databases to identify vulnerabilities with regard to amino acid transport. Several themes emerge, such as synthetic lethality, reduced redundancy, and selective vulnerability, which can be exploited to stop cancer cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Bröer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
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Target the human Alanine/Serine/Cysteine Transporter 2(ASCT2): Achievement and Future for Novel Cancer Therapy. Pharmacol Res 2020; 158:104844. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Baguet T, Verhoeven J, Pauwelyn G, Hu J, Lambe P, De Lombaerde S, Piron S, Donche S, Descamps B, Goethals I, Vanhove C, De Vos F, Beyzavi MH. Radiosynthesis, in vitro and preliminary in vivo evaluation of the novel glutamine derived PET tracers [ 18F]fluorophenylglutamine and [ 18F]fluorobiphenylglutamine. Nucl Med Biol 2020; 86-87:20-29. [PMID: 32447069 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glucose has been deemed the driving force of tumor growth for decades. However, research has shown that several tumors metabolically shift towards glutaminolysis. The development of radiolabeled glutamine derivatives could be a useful molecular imaging tool for visualizing these tumors. We elaborated on the glutamine-derived PET tracers by developing two novel probes, namely [18F]fluorophenylglutamine and [18F]fluorobiphenylglutamine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Both tracers were labelled with fluorine-18 using our recently reported ruthenium-based direct aromatic fluorination method. Their affinity was evaluated with a [3H]glutamine inhibition experiment in a human PC-3 and a rat F98 cell line. The imaging potential of [18F]fluorophenylglutamine and [18F]fluorobiphenylglutamine was tested using a mouse PC-3 and a rat F98 tumor model. RESULTS The radiosynthesis of both tracers was successful with overall non-decay corrected yields of 18.46 ± 4.18% (n = 10) ([18F]fluorophenylglutamine) and 8.05 ± 3.25% (n = 5) ([18F]fluorobiphenylglutamine). In vitro inhibition experiments showed a moderate and low affinity of fluorophenylglutamine and fluorobiphenylglutamine, respectively, towards the human ASCT-2 transporter. Both compounds had a low affinity towards the rat ASCT-2 transporter. These results were endorsed by the in vivo experiments with low uptake of both tracers in the F98 rat xenograft, low uptake of [18F]FBPG in the mice PC-3 xenograft and a moderate uptake of [18F]FPG in the PC-3 tumors. CONCLUSION We investigated the imaging potential of two novel PET radiotracers [18F]FPG and [18F]FBPG. [18F]FPG is the first example of a glutamine radiotracer derivatized with a phenyl group which enables the exploration of further derivatization of the phenyl group to increase the affinity and imaging qualities. We hypothesize that increasing the affinity of [18F]FPG by optimizing the substituents of the arene ring can result in a high-quality glutamine-based PET radiotracer. Advances in Knowledge and Implications for patient care: We hereby report novel glutamine-based PET-tracers. These tracers are tagged on the arene group with fluorine-18, hereby preventing in vivo defluorination, which can occur with alkyl labelled tracers (e.g. (2S,4R)4-[18F]fluoroglutamine). [18F]FPG shows clear tumor uptake in vivo, has no in vivo defluorination and has a straightforward production. We believe this tracer is a good starting point for the development of a high-quality tracer which is useful for the clinical visualization of the glutamine transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Baguet
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | - Glenn Pauwelyn
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jiyun Hu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, AR, USA
| | - Patricia Lambe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, AR, USA
| | | | - Sarah Piron
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sam Donche
- Ghent University Hospital, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Descamps
- IBiTech-MEDISIP Ghent University, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Goethals
- Ghent University Hospital, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian Vanhove
- IBiTech-MEDISIP Ghent University, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip De Vos
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Hassan Beyzavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, AR, USA.
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Scalise M, Pochini L, Galluccio M, Console L, Indiveri C. Glutamine transporters as pharmacological targets: From function to drug design. Asian J Pharm Sci 2020; 15:207-219. [PMID: 32373200 PMCID: PMC7193454 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the different targets of administered drugs, there are membrane transporters that play also a role in drug delivery and disposition. Moreover, drug-transporter interactions are responsible for off-target effects of drugs underlying their toxicity. The improvement of the drug design process is subjected to the identification of those membrane transporters mostly relevant for drug absorption, delivery and side effect production. A peculiar group of proteins with great relevance to pharmacology is constituted by the membrane transporters responsible for managing glutamine traffic in different body districts. The interest around glutamine metabolism lies in its physio-pathological role; glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid because highly proliferative cells have an increased request of glutamine that cannot be satisfied only by endogenous synthesis. Then, glutamine transporters provide cells with this special nutrient. Among the glutamine transporters, SLC1A5, SLC6A14, SLC6A19, SLC7A5, SLC7A8 and some members of SLC38 family are the best characterized, so far, in both physiological and pathological conditions. Few 3D structures have been solved by CryoEM; other structural data on these transporters have been obtained by computational analysis. Interactions with drugs have been described for several transporters of this group. For some of them, the studies are at an advanced stage, for others, the studies are still in nuce and novel biochemical findings open intriguing perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariafrancesca Scalise
- Department of DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Lorena Pochini
- Department of DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Michele Galluccio
- Department of DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Lara Console
- Department of DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
| | - Cesare Indiveri
- Department of DiBEST (Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 87036, Italy
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Osman I, He X, Liu J, Dong K, Wen T, Zhang F, Yu L, Hu G, Xin H, Zhang W, Zhou J. TEAD1 (TEA Domain Transcription Factor 1) Promotes Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Through Upregulating SLC1A5 (Solute Carrier Family 1 Member 5)-Mediated Glutamine Uptake. Circ Res 2020; 124:1309-1322. [PMID: 30801233 PMCID: PMC6493685 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.314187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Rationale: TEAD (TEA domain transcription factor) 1—a major effector of the Hippo signaling pathway—acts as an oncoprotein in a variety of tumors. However, the function of TEAD1 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remains unclear. Objective: To assess the role of TEAD1 in vascular injury–induced smooth muscle proliferation and delineate the mechanisms underlying its action. Methods and Results: We found that TEAD1 expression is enhanced in mouse femoral artery after wire injury and correlates with the activation of mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) signaling in vivo. Using an inducible smooth muscle–specific Tead1 KO (knockout) mouse model, we found that specific deletion of Tead1 in adult VSMCs is sufficient to attenuate arterial injury–induced neointima formation due to inhibition of mTORC1 activation and VSMC proliferation. Furthermore, we found that TEAD1 plays a unique role in VSMCs, where it not only downregulates VSMC differentiation markers but also activates mTORC1 signaling, leading to enhanced VSMC proliferation. Using whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis, we identified Slc1a5 (solute carrier family 1 member 5)—a key glutamine transporter—as a novel TEAD1 target gene. SLC1A5 overexpression mimicked TEAD1 in promoting mTORC1 activation and VSMC proliferation. Moreover, depletion of SLC1A5 by silencing RNA or blocking SLC1A5-mediated glutamine uptake attenuated TEAD1-dependent mTORC1 activation and VSMC proliferation. Conclusions: Our study unravels a novel mechanism by which TEAD1 promotes VSMC proliferation via transcriptional induction of SLC1A5, thereby activating mTORC1 signaling and promoting neointima formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Osman
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (I.O., K.D., G.H., J.Z.)
| | - Xiangqin He
- Institute of Translational Medicine (X.H., H.X.), Nanchang University, China.,School of Life Sciences (X.H., H.X.), Nanchang University, China
| | - Jinhua Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine (J.L., W.Z.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China
| | - Kunzhe Dong
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (I.O., K.D., G.H., J.Z.)
| | - Tong Wen
- Department of Cardiology (T.W.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China
| | - Fanzhi Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, China (F.Z.)
| | - Luyi Yu
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (I.O., K.D., G.H., J.Z.)
| | - Guoqing Hu
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (I.O., K.D., G.H., J.Z.)
| | - Hongbo Xin
- Institute of Translational Medicine (X.H., H.X.), Nanchang University, China.,School of Life Sciences (X.H., H.X.), Nanchang University, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine (J.L., W.Z.), The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China
| | - Jiliang Zhou
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (I.O., K.D., G.H., J.Z.)
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Amino Acid Transporters and Exchangers from the SLC1A Family: Structure, Mechanism and Roles in Physiology and Cancer. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:1268-1286. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02934-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Abstract
The transport of materials across membranes is a vital process for all aspects of cellular function, including growth, metabolism, and communication. Protein transporters are the molecular gates that control this movement and serve as key points of regulation for these processes, thus representing an attractive class of therapeutic targets. With more than 400 members, the solute carrier (SLC) membrane transport proteins are the largest family of transporters, yet, they are pharmacologically underexploited relative to other protein families and many of the available chemical tools possess suboptimal selectivity and efficacy. Fortuitously, there is increased interest in elucidating the physiological roles of SLCs as well as growing recognition of their therapeutic potential. This Perspective provides an overview of the SLC superfamily, including their biochemical and functional features, as well as their roles in various human diseases. In particular, we explore efforts and associated challenges toward drugging SLCs, as well as highlight opportunities for future drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Wei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Leandro Gallo
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Appaso Jadhav
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Richard Hawkins
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Christopher G Parker
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States.,Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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50
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Zhang Z, Liu R, Shuai Y, Huang Y, Jin R, Wang X, Luo J. ASCT2 (SLC1A5)-dependent glutamine uptake is involved in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2019; 122:82-93. [PMID: 31819178 PMCID: PMC6964701 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0637-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glutamine is an abundant and versatile nutrient in cancer cells. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was reported to be dependent on mainly glucose, not glutamine, for producing the energy required for survival and proliferation. Methods The roles of ASCT2 (SLC1A5) and associated glutamine metabolism were determined by the MTT, colony formation, glutamine uptake, intracellular glutathione, ROS detection, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays as well as animal studies. Results We found that glutamine is also critical for HNSCC. In this study, ASCT2, an amino acid transporter responsible for glutamine transport, in addition to LAT1 and GLS, is overexpressed in HNSCC and associated with poor survival. Using both in vivo and in vitro models, we found that knocking down ASCT2 by shRNAs or miR-137 or the combination of silencing ASCT2 and pharmacologically inhibiting SNAT2 via a small-molecule antagonist called V-9302 significantly suppressed intracellular glutamine levels and downstream glutamine metabolism, including glutathione production; these effects attenuated growth and proliferation, increased apoptosis and autophagy, and increased oxidative stress and mTORC1 pathway suppression in HNSCC. Additionally, silencing ASCT2 improved the response to cetuximab in HNSCC. Conclusions In summary, ASCT2-dependent glutamine uptake and subsequent glutamine metabolism are essential for HNSCC tumorigenesis, and the combination of glutamine uptake inhibitors and cetuximab presents a promising strategy for improving the outcomes of HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Ruoyan Liu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yanjie Shuai
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yuting Huang
- Cancer and Immunology, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Rui Jin
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Jingtao Luo
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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