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Paneque A, Fortus H, Zheng J, Werlen G, Jacinto E. The Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway: Regulation and Function. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040933. [PMID: 37107691 PMCID: PMC10138107 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) produces uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl glucosamine, UDP-GlcNAc, which is a key metabolite that is used for N- or O-linked glycosylation, a co- or post-translational modification, respectively, that modulates protein activity and expression. The production of hexosamines can occur via de novo or salvage mechanisms that are catalyzed by metabolic enzymes. Nutrients including glutamine, glucose, acetyl-CoA, and UTP are utilized by the HBP. Together with availability of these nutrients, signaling molecules that respond to environmental signals, such as mTOR, AMPK, and stress-regulated transcription factors, modulate the HBP. This review discusses the regulation of GFAT, the key enzyme of the de novo HBP, as well as other metabolic enzymes that catalyze the reactions to produce UDP-GlcNAc. We also examine the contribution of the salvage mechanisms in the HBP and how dietary supplementation of the salvage metabolites glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine could reprogram metabolism and have therapeutic potential. We elaborate on how UDP-GlcNAc is utilized for N-glycosylation of membrane and secretory proteins and how the HBP is reprogrammed during nutrient fluctuations to maintain proteostasis. We also consider how O-GlcNAcylation is coupled to nutrient availability and how this modification modulates cell signaling. We summarize how deregulation of protein N-glycosylation and O-GlcNAcylation can lead to diseases including cancer, diabetes, immunodeficiencies, and congenital disorders of glycosylation. We review the current pharmacological strategies to inhibit GFAT and other enzymes involved in the HBP or glycosylation and how engineered prodrugs could have better therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of diseases related to HBP deregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysta Paneque
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Harvey Fortus
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Julia Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Guy Werlen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Estela Jacinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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2
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Allmeroth K, Hartman MD, Purrio M, Mesaros A, Denzel MS. Hexosamine pathway activation improves memory but does not extend lifespan in mice. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13711. [PMID: 36124412 PMCID: PMC9577955 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucosamine feeding and genetic activation of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) have been linked to improved protein quality control and lifespan extension. However, as an energy sensor, the HBP has been implicated in tumor progression and diabetes. Given these opposing outcomes, it is imperative to explore the long-term effects of chronic HBP activation in mammals. Thus, we asked if HBP activation affects metabolism, coordination, memory, and survival in mice. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) supplementation in the drinking water had no adverse effect on weight in males but increased weight in young females. Glucose or insulin tolerance was not affected up to 20 months of age. Of note, we observed improved memory in young male mice supplemented with GlcNAc. Survival was not changed by GlcNAc treatment. To assess the effects of genetic HBP activation, we overexpressed the pathway's key enzyme GFAT1 and a constitutively activated mutant form in all mouse tissues. We detected elevated levels of the HBP product UDP-GlcNAc in mouse brains, but did not find any effects on behavior, memory, or survival. Together, while dietary GlcNAc supplementation did not extend survival in mice, it positively affected memory and is generally well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Allmeroth
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
| | | | - Martin Purrio
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
| | - Andrea Mesaros
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
| | - Martin S. Denzel
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany,CECAD ‐ Cluster of ExcellenceUniversity of CologneCologneGermany,Center for Molecular Medicine CologneUniversity of CologneCologneGermany,Altos Labs, Cambridge Institute of ScienceGranta Park, Great AbingtonCambridgeUK
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3
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Nabeebaccus AA, Verma S, Zoccarato A, Emanuelli G, Santos CX, Streckfuss-Bömeke K, Shah AM. Cardiomyocyte protein O-GlcNAcylation is regulated by GFAT1 not GFAT2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 583:121-127. [PMID: 34735873 PMCID: PMC8606754 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.10.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In response to cardiac injury, increased activity of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) is linked with cytoprotective as well as adverse effects depending on the type and duration of injury. Glutamine-fructose amidotransferase (GFAT; gene name gfpt) is the rate-limiting enzyme that controls flux through HBP. Two protein isoforms exist in the heart called GFAT1 and GFAT2. There are conflicting data on the relative importance of GFAT1 and GFAT2 during stress-induced HBP responses in the heart. Using neonatal rat cardiac cell preparations, targeted knockdown of GFPT1 and GFPT2 were performed and HBP activity measured. Immunostaining with specific GFAT1 and GFAT2 antibodies was undertaken in neonatal rat cardiac preparations and murine cardiac tissues to characterise cell-specific expression. Publicly available human heart single cell sequencing data was interrogated to determine cell-type expression. Western blots for GFAT isoform protein expression were performed in human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). GFPT1 but not GFPT2 knockdown resulted in a loss of stress-induced protein O-GlcNAcylation in neonatal cardiac cell preparations indicating reduced HBP activity. In rodent cells and tissue, immunostaining for GFAT1 identified expression in both cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts whereas immunostaining for GFAT2 was only identified in fibroblasts. Further corroboration of findings in human heart cells identified an enrichment of GFPT2 gene expression in cardiac fibroblasts but not ventricular myocytes whereas GFPT1 was expressed in both myocytes and fibroblasts. In human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, only GFAT1 protein was expressed with an absence of GFAT2. In conclusion, these results indicate that GFAT1 is the primary cardiomyocyte isoform and GFAT2 is only present in cardiac fibroblasts. Cell-specific isoform expression may have differing effects on cell function and should be considered when studying HBP and GFAT functions in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A Nabeebaccus
- BHF Centre of Excellence King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK.
| | - Sharwari Verma
- BHF Centre of Excellence King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Anna Zoccarato
- BHF Centre of Excellence King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Giulia Emanuelli
- BHF Centre of Excellence King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Celio Xc Santos
- BHF Centre of Excellence King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Katrin Streckfuss-Bömeke
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, 10785 Berlin, partnersite Göttingen, Germany; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ajay M Shah
- BHF Centre of Excellence King's College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
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Ukwenya VO, Adelakun SA, Elekofehinti OO. Exploring the antidiabetic potential of compounds isolated from Anacardium occidentale using computational aproach: ligand-based virtual screening. In Silico Pharmacol 2021; 9:25. [PMID: 33868895 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-021-00084-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is becoming an important public health challenge worldwide and especially in developing nations. About 8.8 percent of the world adult population has been reported to have diabetes. Glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase 1 (GFAT1) catalyses the first committed step in the pathway for biosynthesis of hexosamines in mammals, and its inhibition has been thought to prevent hyperglycaemia. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), on the other hand, degrades hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an enzyme that plays a major role in the enhancement of glucose-dependent insulin secretion, making these two proteins candidate targets for diabetes. To find potential inhibitors of DPP-4 and GFAT1 from Anacardium occidentale using a computational approach, glide XP (extra precision) docking, Induced Fit Docking (IFD), Binding free energy of the compounds were determined against prepared crystal structure of DPP-4 and GFAT1 using the Maestro molecular interface of Schrödinger suites. The Lipinski's rule of five (RO5) and ADME properties of the compounds were assessed. Predictive models for both protein targets were built using AutoQSAR. This study identified 8 hit compounds. Most of these compounds passed the RO5 and were within the recommended range for defined ADME parameters. In addition, the predicted pIC50 for the hit compounds were promising. The results obtained from the present study can be used to design an antidiabetic drug. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-021-00084-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Okoliko Ukwenya
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Health and Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Sunday Aderemi Adelakun
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Health and Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Olusola Olalekan Elekofehinti
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, School of Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
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Abstract
Glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) enzymes catalyse the first committed step of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) using glutamine and fructose-6-phosphate to form glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P). Numerous species (e.g. mouse, rat, zebrafish, chicken) including humans and Drosophila encode two broadly expressed copies of this enzyme but whether these perform redundant, partially overlapping or distinct functions is not known. To address this question, we produced single gene null mutations in the fly counterparts of gfat1 and gfat2. Deletions for either enzyme were fully lethal and homozygotes lacking either GFAT1 or GFAT2 died at or prior to the first instar larval stage. Therefore, when genetically eliminated, neither isoform was able to compensate for the other. Importantly, dietary supplementation with D-glucosamine-6-phosphate rescued GFAT2 deficiency and restored viability to gfat2-/- mutants. In contrast, glucosamine-6-phosphate did not rescue gfat1-/- animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sarah Visokay
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John M Abrams
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX, USA
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7
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Li L, Shao M, Peng P, Yang C, Song S, Duan F, Jia D, Zhang M, Zhao J, Zhao R, Wu W, Wang L, Li C, Wu H, Zhang J, Wu X, Ruan Y, Gu J. High expression of GFAT1 predicts unfavorable prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:19205-19217. [PMID: 28186970 PMCID: PMC5386678 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. As a branch of glucose metabolism, hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) has been reported to play a critical role in the insulin resistance and progression of cancer. Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the HBP; nevertheless, the prognostic value of GFAT1 in HCC remains elusive. In this study, we found that high expression of GFAT1 was significantly associated with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor size, tumor encapsulation, T stage and TNM stage. High GFAT1 expression was identified as an independent prognostic factor which predicted poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in HCC patients. Incorporation of GFAT1 expression could improve the prognostic accuracy of traditional TNM stage system. Integration of GFAT1 expression with other independent prognosticators generated a predictive nomogram, which showed better prognostic efficiency for OS and RFS in HCC patients. In vitro studies also revealed that GFAT1 promoted the proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion of HCC cells. In conclusion, GFAT1 is a potential prognostic biomarker for overall survival and recurrence-free survival of HCC patients after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Li
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Miaomiao Shao
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Peike Peng
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Caiting Yang
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Shushu Song
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Fangfang Duan
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Dongwei Jia
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Mingming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Junjie Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Ran Zhao
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Weicheng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Lan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Can Li
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Hao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Xin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Yuanyuan Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
| | - Jianxin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research Ministry of Public Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China.,Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R.China
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Zibrova D, Vandermoere F, Göransson O, Peggie M, Mariño KV, Knierim A, Spengler K, Weigert C, Viollet B, Morrice NA, Sakamoto K, Heller R. GFAT1 phosphorylation by AMPK promotes VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Biochem J 2017; 474:983-1001. [PMID: 28008135 DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20160980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in endothelial cells regulates energy homeostasis, stress protection and angiogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Using a label-free phosphoproteomic analysis, we identified glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase 1 (GFAT1) as an AMPK substrate. GFAT1 is the rate-limiting enzyme in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and as such controls the modification of proteins by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that AMPK controls O-GlcNAc levels and function of endothelial cells via GFAT1 phosphorylation using biochemical, pharmacological, genetic and in vitro angiogenesis approaches. Activation of AMPK in primary human endothelial cells by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) or by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) led to GFAT1 phosphorylation at serine 243. This effect was not seen when AMPK was down-regulated by siRNA. Upon AMPK activation, diminished GFAT activity and reduced O-GlcNAc levels were observed in endothelial cells containing wild-type (WT)-GFAT1 but not in cells expressing non-phosphorylatable S243A-GFAT1. Pharmacological inhibition or siRNA-mediated down-regulation of GFAT1 potentiated VEGF-induced sprouting, indicating that GFAT1 acts as a negative regulator of angiogenesis. In cells expressing S243A-GFAT1, VEGF-induced sprouting was reduced, suggesting that VEGF relieves the inhibitory action of GFAT1/HBP on angiogenesis via AMPK-mediated GFAT1 phosphorylation. Activation of GFAT1/HBP by high glucose led to impairment of vascular sprouting, whereas GFAT1 inhibition improved sprouting even if glucose level was high. Our findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the role of HBP in angiogenesis. They suggest that targeting AMPK in endothelium might help to ameliorate hyperglycaemia-induced vascular dysfunction associated with metabolic disorders.
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