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Xiao C, Li Y, Liu Y, Dong R, He X, Lin Q, Zang X, Wang K, Xia Y, Kong L. Overcoming Cancer Persister Cells by Stabilizing the ATF4 Promoter G-quadruplex. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2401748. [PMID: 38994891 PMCID: PMC11425212 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Persister cells (PS) selected for anticancer therapy have been recognized as a significant contributor to the development of treatment-resistant malignancies. It is found that imposing glutamine restriction induces the generation of PS, which paradoxically bestows heightened resistance to glutamine restriction treatment by activating the integrated stress response and initiating the general control nonderepressible 2-activating transcription factor 4-alanine, serine, cysteine-preferring transporter 2 (GCN2-ATF4-ASCT2) axis. Central to this phenomenon is the stress-induced ATF4 translational reprogramming. Unfortunately, directly targeting ATF4 protein has proven to be a formidable challenge because of its flat surface. Nonetheless, a G-quadruplex structure located within the promoter region of ATF4 (ATF4-G4) is uncovered and resolved, which functions as a transcriptional regulator and can be targeted by small molecules. The investigation identifies the natural compound coptisine (COP) as a potent binder that interacts with and stabilizes ATF4-G4. For the first time, the high-resolution structure of the COP-ATF4-G4 complex is determined. The formation of this stable complex disrupts the interaction between transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A) and ATF4-G4, resulting in a substantial reduction in intracellular ATF4 levels and the eventual death of cancer cells. These seminal findings underscore the potential of targeting the ATF4-G4 structure to yield significant therapeutic advantages within the realm of persister cancer cells induced by glutamine-restricted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengmei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Yipu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Yushuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Ruifang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Xiaoyu He
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Qing Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Xin Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Kaibo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Yuanzheng Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of China Pharmaceutical UniversityShenzhen518057China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product ResearchSchool of Traditional Chinese PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
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Xu F, Ren Y, Teng Y, Mu J, Tang J, Sundaram K, Zhang L, Park JW, Hwang JY, Yan J, Dryden G, Zhang H. Tryptophan As a New Member of RNA-Induced Silencing Complexes Prevents Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307937. [PMID: 39031551 PMCID: PMC11336974 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Essential amino acids (EAA) and microRNAs (miRs) control biological activity of a cell. Whether EAA regulates the activity of miR has never been demonstrated. Here, as proof-of-concept, a tryptophan (Trp, an EAA) complex containing Argonaute 2 (Ago2) and miRs including miR-193a (Trp/Ago2/miR-193a) is identified. Trp binds miR-193a-3p and interacts with Ago2. Trp/Ago2/miR-193a increases miR-193a-3p activity via enhancing Argonaute 2 (Ago2) RNase activity. Other miRs including miR-103 and miR-107 in the Trp complex enhance miR-193a activity by targeting the same genes. Mechanistically, the Trp/Ago2/miR-193a complex interacts with Trp-binding pockets of the PIWI domain of Ago2 to enhance Ago2 mediated miR activity. This newly formed Ago2/Trp/miR-193a-3p complex is more efficient than miR-193a-3p alone in inhibiting the expression of targeted genes and inhibiting colon cancer liver metastasis. The findings show that Trp regulates miR activity through communication with the RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISC), which provides the basis for tryptophan based miR therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyi Xu
- Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
- Department of Central LaboratoryCancer CenterThe affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityHuai'an223300China
| | - Yi Ren
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryThe affiliated Huaian first People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityHuaianJiangsu223300China
| | - Yun Teng
- Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
| | - Jingyao Mu
- Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
| | - Jie Tang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryThe affiliated Huaian first People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityHuaianJiangsu223300China
| | | | - Lifeng Zhang
- Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
| | - Juw Won Park
- Department of Computer Science and EngineeringUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
| | - Jae Yeon Hwang
- Department of Computer Science and EngineeringUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
| | - Jun Yan
- Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
| | - Gerald Dryden
- Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical CenterLouisvilleKY40206USA
| | - Huang‐Ge Zhang
- Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
- Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical CenterLouisvilleKY40206USA
- Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY40202USA
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3
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Dsouza L, Pant A, Pope B, Yang Z. Role of vaccinia virus growth factor in stimulating the mTORC1-CAD axis of the de novo pyrimidine pathway under different nutritional cues. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.02.601567. [PMID: 39005450 PMCID: PMC11245005 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.02.601567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Vaccinia virus (VACV), the prototype poxvirus, actively reprograms host cell metabolism upon infection. However, the nature and molecular mechanisms remain largely elusive. Given the diverse nutritional exposures of cells in different physiological contexts, it is essential to understand how VACV may alter various metabolic pathways in different nutritional conditions. In this study, we established the importance of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis in VACV infection. We elucidated the significance of vaccinia growth factor (VGF), a viral early protein and a homolog of cellular epidermal growth factor, in enabling VACV to phosphorylate the key enzyme CAD of the de novo pyrimidine pathway at serine 1859, a site known to positively regulate CAD activity. While nutrient-poor conditions typically inhibit mTORC1 activation, VACV activates CAD via mTORC1-S6K1 signaling axis, in conditions where glutamine and asparagine are absent. However, unlike its cellular homolog, epidermal growth factor (EGF), VGF peptide alone in the absence of VACV infection has minimal ability to activate CAD, suggestive of the involvement of other viral factor(s) and differential functions to EGF acquired during poxvirus evolution. Our research provides a foundation for understanding the regulation of a significant metabolic pathway, namely, de novo pyrimidine synthesis during VACV infection, shedding new light on viral regulation under distinct nutritional environments. This study not only has the potential to contribute to the advancement of antiviral treatments but also improve the development of VACV as an oncolytic agent and vaccine vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Dsouza
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Anil Pant
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Blake Pope
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zhilong Yang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Yan Z, Luan Y, Wang Y, Ren Y, Li Z, Zhao L, Shen L, Yang X, Liu T, Gao Y, Sun W. Constructing a Novel Amino Acid Metabolism Signature: A New Perspective on Pheochromocytoma Diagnosis, Immune Landscape, and Immunotherapy. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10733-5. [PMID: 38526709 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10733-5] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PGPG) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Amino acid metabolism is crucial for energy production, redox balance, and metabolic pathways in tumor cell proliferation. This study aimed to build a risk model using amino acid metabolism-related genes, enhancing PGPG diagnosis and treatment decisions. We analyzed RNA-sequencing data from the PCPG cohort in the GEO dataset as our training set and validated our findings using the TCGA dataset and an additional clinical cohort. WGCNA and LASSO were utilized to identify hub genes and develop risk prediction models. The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, MCPCOUNTER, and ESTIMATE algorithm calculated the relationship between amino acid metabolism and immune cell infiltration in PCPG. The TIDE algorithm predicted the immunotherapy efficacy for PCPG patients. The analysis identified 292 genes with differential expression, which are involved in amino acid metabolism and immune pathways. Six genes (DDC, SYT11, GCLM, PSMB7, TYRO3, AGMAT) were identified as crucial for the risk prediction model. Patients with a high-risk profile demonstrated reduced immune infiltration but potentially higher benefits from immunotherapy. Notably, DDC and SYT11 showed strong diagnostic and prognostic potential. Validation through quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction and immunohistochemistry confirmed their differential expression, underscoring their significance in PCPG diagnosis and in predicting immunotherapy response. This study's integration of amino acid metabolism-related genes into a risk prediction model offers critical clinical insights for PCPG risk stratification, potential immunotherapy responses, drug development, and treatment planning, marking a significant step forward in the management of this complex condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zechen Yan
- BGI College and Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongkun Luan
- BGI College and Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- BGI College and Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilin Ren
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Luyang Zhao
- BGI College and Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Linnuo Shen
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojie Yang
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Tonghu Liu
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yukui Gao
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weibo Sun
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Surgery, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Oncology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
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5
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Zeng Y, Jiang H, Zhang X, Xu J, Wu X, Xu Q, Cai W, Ying H, Zhou R, Ding Y, Ying K, Song X, Chen Z, Zeng L, Zhao L, Yu F. Canagliflozin reduces chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma through PKM2-c-Myc complex-mediated glutamine starvation. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 208:571-586. [PMID: 37696420 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Cisplatin (CPT) is one of the standard treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its use is limits as a monotherapy due to drug resistance, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To solve this problem, we tried using canagliflozin (CANA), a clinical drug for diabetes, to reduce chemoresistance to CPT, and the result showed that CANA could vigorously inhibit cell proliferation and migration independent of the original target SGLT2. Mechanistically, CANA reduced aerobic glycolysis in HCC by targeting PKM2. The downregulated PKM2 directly bound to the transcription factor c-Myc in the cytoplasm to form a complex, which upregulated the level of phosphorylated c-Myc Thr58 and promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of c-Myc. Decreased c-Myc reduced the expression of GLS1, a key enzyme in glutamine metabolism, leading to impaired glutamine utilization. Finally, intracellular glutamine starvation induced ferroptosis and sensitized HCC to CPT. In conclusion, our study showed that CANA re-sensitized HCC to CPT by inducing ferroptosis through dual effects on glycolysis and glutamine metabolism. This is a novel mechanism to increase chemosensitivity, which may provide compatible chemotherapy drugs for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haoran Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiangting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weimin Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huiya Ying
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruoru Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingrong Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kanglei Ying
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xian Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhuoyan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liuwei Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Luying Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Fujun Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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6
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Tombari C, Zannini A, Bertolio R, Pedretti S, Audano M, Triboli L, Cancila V, Vacca D, Caputo M, Donzelli S, Segatto I, Vodret S, Piazza S, Rustighi A, Mantovani F, Belletti B, Baldassarre G, Blandino G, Tripodo C, Bicciato S, Mitro N, Del Sal G. Mutant p53 sustains serine-glycine synthesis and essential amino acids intake promoting breast cancer growth. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6777. [PMID: 37880212 PMCID: PMC10600207 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42458-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of amino acid metabolism, sustained by oncogenic signaling, is crucial for cancer cell survival under nutrient limitation. Here we discovered that missense mutant p53 oncoproteins stimulate de novo serine/glycine synthesis and essential amino acids intake, promoting breast cancer growth. Mechanistically, mutant p53, unlike the wild-type counterpart, induces the expression of serine-synthesis-pathway enzymes and L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)/CD98 heavy chain heterodimer. This effect is exacerbated by amino acid shortage, representing a mutant p53-dependent metabolic adaptive response. When cells suffer amino acids scarcity, mutant p53 protein is stabilized and induces metabolic alterations and an amino acid transcriptional program that sustain cancer cell proliferation. In patient-derived tumor organoids, pharmacological targeting of either serine-synthesis-pathway and LAT1-mediated transport synergizes with amino acid shortage in blunting mutant p53-dependent growth. These findings reveal vulnerabilities potentially exploitable for tackling breast tumors bearing missense TP53 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Tombari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zannini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Rebecca Bertolio
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Pedretti
- DiSFeB, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Audano
- DiSFeB, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Triboli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, Human Pathology Section, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Davide Vacca
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, Human Pathology Section, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Manuel Caputo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sara Donzelli
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Segatto
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Simone Vodret
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rustighi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fiamma Mantovani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Barbara Belletti
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Gustavo Baldassarre
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, Human Pathology Section, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133, Palermo, Italy
- IFOM ETS, the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvio Bicciato
- Center for Genome Research, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Nico Mitro
- DiSFeB, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giannino Del Sal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
- IFOM ETS, the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy.
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7
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Clavería-Cabello A, Herranz JM, Latasa MU, Arechederra M, Uriarte I, Pineda-Lucena A, Prosper F, Berraondo P, Alonso C, Sangro B, García Marin JJ, Martinez-Chantar ML, Ciordia S, Corrales FJ, Francalanci P, Alaggio R, Zucman-Rossi J, Indersie E, Cairo S, Domingo-Sàbat M, Zanatto L, Sancho-Bru P, Armengol C, Berasain C, Fernandez-Barrena MG, Avila MA. Identification and experimental validation of druggable epigenetic targets in hepatoblastoma. J Hepatol 2023; 79:989-1005. [PMID: 37302584 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most frequent childhood liver cancer. Patients with aggressive tumors have limited therapeutic options; therefore, a better understanding of HB pathogenesis is needed to improve treatment. HBs have a very low mutational burden; however, epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized. We aimed to identify epigenetic regulators consistently dysregulated in HB and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of their targeting in clinically relevant models. METHODS We performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of 180 epigenetic genes. Data from fetal, pediatric, adult, peritumoral (n = 72) and tumoral (n = 91) tissues were integrated. Selected epigenetic drugs were tested in HB cells. The most relevant epigenetic target identified was validated in primary HB cells, HB organoids, a patient-derived xenograft model, and a genetic mouse model. Transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic mechanistic analyses were performed. RESULTS Altered expression of genes regulating DNA methylation and histone modifications was consistently observed in association with molecular and clinical features of poor prognosis. The histone methyltransferase G9a was markedly upregulated in tumors with epigenetic and transcriptomic traits of increased malignancy. Pharmacological targeting of G9a significantly inhibited growth of HB cells, organoids and patient-derived xenografts. Development of HB induced by oncogenic forms of β-catenin and YAP1 was ablated in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of G9a. We observed that HBs undergo significant transcriptional rewiring in genes involved in amino acid metabolism and ribosomal biogenesis. G9a inhibition counteracted these pro-tumorigenic adaptations. Mechanistically, G9a targeting potently repressed the expression of c-MYC and ATF4, master regulators of HB metabolic reprogramming. CONCLUSIONS HBs display a profound dysregulation of the epigenetic machinery. Pharmacological targeting of key epigenetic effectors exposes metabolic vulnerabilities that can be leveraged to improve the treatment of these patients. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS In spite of recent advances in the management of hepatoblastoma (HB), treatment resistance and drug toxicity are still major concerns. This systematic study reveals the remarkable dysregulation in the expression of epigenetic genes in HB tissues. Through pharmacological and genetic experimental approaches, we demonstrate that the histone-lysine-methyltransferase G9a is an excellent drug target in HB, which can also be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy. Furthermore, our study highlights the profound pro-tumorigenic metabolic rewiring of HB cells orchestrated by G9a in coordination with the c-MYC oncogene. From a broader perspective, our findings suggest that anti-G9a therapies may also be effective in other c-MYC-dependent tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jose Maria Herranz
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Ujue Latasa
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Arechederra
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Iker Uriarte
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Felipe Prosper
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain; Oncohematology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERonc, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Bruno Sangro
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain; Hepatology Unit, CCUN, Navarra University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jose Juan García Marin
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Liver Disease Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CICbioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Sergio Ciordia
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando José Corrales
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Functional Proteomics Laboratory, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Francalanci
- Pathology Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Alaggio
- Pathology Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, INSERM, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | | | - Stefano Cairo
- XenTech, Evry-Courcouronnes, France; Champions Oncology, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Montserrat Domingo-Sàbat
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (PMPCC), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Laura Zanatto
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Sancho-Bru
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Armengol
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (PMPCC), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Carmen Berasain
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite García Fernandez-Barrena
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Matias Antonio Avila
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.
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8
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Sannino S, Manuel AM, Shang C, Wendell SG, Wipf P, Brodsky JL. Non-Essential Amino Acid Availability Influences Proteostasis and Breast Cancer Cell Survival During Proteotoxic Stress. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:675-690. [PMID: 36961392 PMCID: PMC10330057 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-22-0843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) regulates tumor growth and proliferation when cells are exposed to proteotoxic stress, such as during treatment with certain chemotherapeutics. Consequently, cancer cells depend to a greater extent on stress signaling, and require the integrated stress response (ISR), amino acid metabolism, and efficient protein folding and degradation pathways to survive. To define how these interconnected pathways are wired when cancer cells are challenged with proteotoxic stress, we investigated how amino acid abundance influences cell survival when Hsp70, a master proteostasis regulator, is inhibited. We previously demonstrated that cancer cells exposed to a specific Hsp70 inhibitor induce the ISR via the action of two sensors, GCN2 and PERK, in stress-resistant and sensitive cells, respectively. In resistant cells, the induction of GCN2 and autophagy supported resistant cell survival, yet the mechanism by which these events were induced remained unclear. We now report that amino acid availability reconfigures the proteostasis network. Amino acid supplementation, and in particular arginine addition, triggered cancer cell death by blocking autophagy. Consistent with the importance of amino acid availability, which when limited activates GCN2, resistant cancer cells succumbed when challenged with a potentiator for another amino acid sensor, mTORC1, in conjunction with Hsp70 inhibition. IMPLICATIONS These data position amino acid abundance, GCN2, mTORC1, and autophagy as integrated therapeutic targets whose coordinated modulation regulates the survival of proteotoxic-resistant breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sannino
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Allison M. Manuel
- Health Sciences Mass Spectrometry Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chaowei Shang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stacy G. Wendell
- Health Sciences Mass Spectrometry Core, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Brodsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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9
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Dai Z, Chen L, Pan K, Zhao X, Xu W, Du J, Xing C. Multi-omics Analysis of the Role of PHGDH in Colon Cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2023; 22:15330338221145994. [PMID: 36707056 PMCID: PMC9896097 DOI: 10.1177/15330338221145994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Serine metabolism is essential for tumor cells. Endogenous serine arises from de novo synthesis pathways. As the rate-limiting enzyme of this pathway, PHGDH is highly expressed in a variety of tumors including colon cancer. Therefore, targeted inhibition of PHGDH is an important strategy for anti-tumor therapy research. However, the specific gene expression and metabolic pathways regulated by PHGDH in colon cancer are still unclear. Our study was aimed to clarified the role of PHGDH in serine metabolism in colon cancer to provide new knowledge for in-depth understanding of serine metabolism and PHGDH function in colon cancer. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the gene expression and metabolic remodeling process of colon cancer cells (SW620) after targeted inhibition of PHGDH by gene transcriptomics and metabolomics. LC-MS analysis was performed in 293T cells to PHGDH gene transcription and protein post-translational modification under depriving exogenous serine. Results: We found that amino acid transporters, amino acid metabolism, lipid synthesis related pathways compensation and other processes are involved in the response process after PHGDH inhibition. And ATF4 mediated the transcriptional expression of PHGDH under exogenous serine deficiency conditions. While LC-MS analysis of post-translational modification revealed that PHGDH produced changes in acetylation sites after serine deprivation that the K289 site was lost, and a new acetylation site K21was produced. Conclusion: Our study performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis by inhibiting PHGDH, thus clarifying the role of PHGDH in gene transcription and metabolism in colon cancer cells. The mechanism of high PHGDH expression in colon cancer cells and the acetylation modification that occurs in PHGDH protein were also clarified by serine deprivation. In our study, the role of PHGDH in serine metabolism in colon cancer was clarified by multi-omics analysis to provide new knowledge for in-depth understanding of serine metabolism and PHGDH function in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Dai
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow
University, Suzhou, China,Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital,
Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University
School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - KaiLing Pan
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University
School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - XiaoYa Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine,
Medical
School of Nanjing University, Nanjing,
Jiangsu Province, China
| | - WenXia Xu
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University
School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - JinLin Du
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital,
Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,JinLin Du, Department of Colorectal
Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine,
Jinhua 321000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Chungen Xing, Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of
Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Chungen Xing
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow
University, Suzhou, China
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10
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López-Otín C, Pietrocola F, Roiz-Valle D, Galluzzi L, Kroemer G. Meta-hallmarks of aging and cancer. Cell Metab 2023; 35:12-35. [PMID: 36599298 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 134.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Both aging and cancer are characterized by a series of partially overlapping "hallmarks" that we subject here to a meta-analysis. Several hallmarks of aging (i.e., genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis) are very similar to specific cancer hallmarks and hence constitute common "meta-hallmarks," while other features of aging (i.e., telomere attrition and stem cell exhaustion) act likely to suppress oncogenesis and hence can be viewed as preponderantly "antagonistic hallmarks." Disabled macroautophagy and cellular senescence are two hallmarks of aging that exert context-dependent oncosuppressive and pro-tumorigenic effects. Similarly, the equivalence or antagonism between aging-associated deregulated nutrient-sensing and cancer-relevant alterations of cellular metabolism is complex. The agonistic and antagonistic relationship between the processes that drive aging and cancer has bearings for the age-related increase and oldest age-related decrease of cancer morbidity and mortality, as well as for the therapeutic management of malignant disease in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos López-Otín
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Federico Pietrocola
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - David Roiz-Valle
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France; Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
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11
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He L, Wang H, Sui Y, Miao Y, Jin C, Luo J. Genome-wide association studies of five free amino acid levels in rice. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1048860. [PMID: 36420042 PMCID: PMC9676653 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1048860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important staple foods for human consumption and livestock use. As a complex quality trait, free amino acid (FAA) content in rice is of nutritional importance. To dissect the genetic mechanism of FAA level, five amino acids' (Val, Leu, Ile, Arg, and Trp) content and 4,325,832 high-quality SNPs of 448 rice accessions were used to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with nine different methods. Of these methods, one single-locus method (GEMMA), seven multi-locus methods (mrMLM, pLARmEB, FASTmrEMMA, pKWmEB, FASTmrMLM, ISIS EM-BLASSO, and FarmCPU), and the recent released 3VmrMLM were adopted for methodological comparison of quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) detection and identification of stable quantitative trait nucleotide loci (QTLs). As a result, 987 QTNs were identified by eight multi-locus GWAS methods; FASTmrEMMA detected the most QTNs (245), followed by 3VmrMLM (160), and GEMMA detected the least QTNs (0). Among 88 stable QTLs identified by the above methods, 3VmrMLM has some advantages, such as the most common QTNs, the highest LOD score, and the highest proportion of all detected stable QTLs. Around these stable QTLs, candidate genes were found in the GO classification to be involved in the primary metabolic process, biosynthetic process, and catalytic activity, and shown in KEGG analysis to have participated in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of amino acids, and tryptophan metabolism. Natural variations of candidate genes resulting in the content alteration of five FAAs were identified in this association panel. In addition, 95 QTN-by-environment interactions (QEIs) of five FAA levels were detected by 3VmrMLM only. GO classification showed that the candidate genes got involved in the primary metabolic process, transport, and catalytic activity. Candidate genes of QEIs played important roles in valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation (QEI_09_03978551 and candidate gene LOC_Os09g07830 in the Leu dataset), tryptophan metabolism (QEI_01_00617184 and candidate gene LOC_Os01g02020 in the Trp dataset), and glutathione metabolism (QEI_12_09153839 and candidate gene LOC_Os12g16200 in the Arg dataset) pathways through KEGG analysis. As an alternative of the multi-locus GWAS method, these findings suggested that the application of 3VmrMLM may provide new insights into better understanding FAA accumulation and facilitate the molecular breeding of rice with high FAA level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiang He
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Huixian Wang
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yao Sui
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Miao
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, China
| | - Jie Luo
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, China
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12
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Cordova RA, Misra J, Amin PH, Klunk AJ, Damayanti NP, Carlson KR, Elmendorf AJ, Kim HG, Mirek ET, Elzey BD, Miller MJ, Dong XC, Cheng L, Anthony TG, Pili R, Wek RC, Staschke KA. GCN2 eIF2 kinase promotes prostate cancer by maintaining amino acid homeostasis. eLife 2022; 11:e81083. [PMID: 36107759 PMCID: PMC9578714 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A stress adaptation pathway termed the integrated stress response has been suggested to be active in many cancers including prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we demonstrate that the eIF2 kinase GCN2 is required for sustained growth in androgen-sensitive and castration-resistant models of PCa both in vitro and in vivo, and is active in PCa patient samples. Using RNA-seq transcriptome analysis and a CRISPR-based phenotypic screen, GCN2 was shown to regulate expression of over 60 solute-carrier (SLC) genes, including those involved in amino acid transport and loss of GCN2 function reduces amino acid import and levels. Addition of essential amino acids or expression of 4F2 (SLC3A2) partially restored growth following loss of GCN2, suggesting that GCN2 targeting of SLC transporters is required for amino acid homeostasis needed to sustain tumor growth. A small molecule inhibitor of GCN2 showed robust in vivo efficacy in androgen-sensitive and castration-resistant mouse models of PCa, supporting its therapeutic potential for the treatment of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A Cordova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Jagannath Misra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Parth H Amin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Anglea J Klunk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Nur P Damayanti
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisUnited States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Kenneth R Carlson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Andrew J Elmendorf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Hyeong-Geug Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Emily T Mirek
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers UniversityNew BrunswickUnited States
| | - Bennet D Elzey
- Department of Comparative Pathology, Purdue UniversityWest LafayetteUnited States
- Department of Urology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Marcus J Miller
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - X Charlie Dong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Liang Cheng
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisUnited States
- Department of Urology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Tracy G Anthony
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers UniversityNew BrunswickUnited States
| | - Roberto Pili
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at BuffaloBuffaloUnited States
| | - Ronald C Wek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Kirk A Staschke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisUnited States
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13
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Verma S, Crawford D, Khateb A, Feng Y, Sergienko E, Pathria G, Ma CT, Olson SH, Scott D, Murad R, Ruppin E, Jackson M, Ronai ZA. NRF2 mediates melanoma addiction to GCDH by modulating apoptotic signalling. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:1422-1432. [PMID: 36050469 PMCID: PMC9977532 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00985-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Tumour dependency on specific metabolic signals has been demonstrated and often guided numerous therapeutic approaches. We identify melanoma addiction to the mitochondrial protein glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH), which functions in lysine metabolism and controls protein glutarylation. GCDH knockdown induced cell death programmes in melanoma cells, an activity blocked by inhibition of the upstream lysine catabolism enzyme DHTKD1. The transcription factor NRF2 mediates GCDH-dependent melanoma cell death programmes. Mechanistically, GCDH knockdown induces NRF2 glutarylation, increasing its stability and DNA binding activity, with a concomitant transcriptional upregulation of ATF4, ATF3, DDIT3 and CHAC1, resulting in cell death. In vivo, inducible inactivation of GCDH effectively inhibited melanoma tumour growth. Correspondingly, reduced GCDH expression correlated with improved survival of patients with melanoma. These findings identify melanoma cell addiction to GCDH, limiting apoptotic signalling by controlling NRF2 glutarylation. Inhibiting the GCDH pathway could thus represent a therapeutic approach to treat melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin Verma
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - David Crawford
- Cancer Data Science Lab (CDSL), National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Ali Khateb
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Yongmei Feng
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Eduard Sergienko
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Gaurav Pathria
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Chen-Ting Ma
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Steven H Olson
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - David Scott
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Rabi Murad
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Lab (CDSL), National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Michael Jackson
- Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037
| | - Ze’ev A Ronai
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037,Correspondence: Ze’ev Ronai, Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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14
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Amino acid deprivation induces AKT activation by inducing GCN2/ATF4/REDD1 axis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1127. [PMID: 34862383 PMCID: PMC8642548 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04417-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Amino acid availability is sensed by various signaling molecules, including general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). However, it is unclear how these sensors are associated with cancer cell survival under low amino acid availability. In the present study, we investigated AKT activation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells deprived of each one of 20 amino acids. Among the 20 amino acids, deprivation of glutamine, arginine, methionine, and lysine induced AKT activation. AKT activation was induced by GCN2/ATF4/REDD1 axis-mediated mTORC2 activation under amino acid deprivation. In CRISPR-Cas9-mediated REDD1-knockout cells, AKT activation was not induced by amino acid deprivation, indicating that REDD1 plays a major role in AKT activation under amino acid deprivation. Knockout of REDD1 sensitized cells cultured under glutamine deprivation conditions to radiotherapy. Taken together, GCN2/ATF4/REDD1 axis induced by amino acid deprivation promotes cell survival signal, which might be a potential target for cancer therapy.
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15
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Proske A, Bossen J, von Frieling J, Roeder T. Low-protein diet applied as part of combination therapy or stand-alone normalizes lifespan and tumor proliferation in a model of intestinal cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:24017-24036. [PMID: 34766923 PMCID: PMC8610115 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tumors of the intestinal tract are among the most common tumor diseases in humans, but, like many other tumor entities, show an unsatisfactory prognosis with a need for effective therapies. To test whether nutritional interventions and a combination with a targeted therapy can effectively cure these cancers, we used the fruit fly Drosophila as a model. In this system, we induced tumors by EGFR overexpression in intestinal stem cells. Limiting the amount of protein in the diet restored life span to that of control animals. In combination with a specific EGFR inhibitor, all major tumor-associated phenotypes could be rescued. This form of treatment was also successful in a real treatment scenario, which means when they started after the full tumor phenotype was expressed. In conclusion, reduced protein administration can be a very promising form of adjuvant cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Proske
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Judith Bossen
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Kiel, Germany
| | - Jakob von Frieling
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Kiel, Germany
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16
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Bhingarkar A, Vangapandu HV, Rathod S, Hoshitsuki K, Fernandez CA. Amino Acid Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemias. Front Oncol 2021; 11:694526. [PMID: 34277440 PMCID: PMC8281237 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.694526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid (AA) metabolism plays an important role in many cellular processes including energy production, immune function, and purine and pyrimidine synthesis. Cancer cells therefore require increased AA uptake and undergo metabolic reprogramming to satisfy the energy demand associated with their rapid proliferation. Like many other cancers, myeloid leukemias are vulnerable to specific therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic dependencies. Herein, our review provides a comprehensive overview and TCGA data analysis of biosynthetic enzymes required for non-essential AA synthesis and their dysregulation in myeloid leukemias. Furthermore, we discuss the role of the general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) and-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways of AA sensing on metabolic vulnerability and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aboli Bhingarkar
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hima V. Vangapandu
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sanjay Rathod
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Keito Hoshitsuki
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christian A. Fernandez
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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