Autophagy-dependent metabolic reprogramming sensitizes tsc2-deficient cells to the antimetabolite 6-aminonicotinamide

Andrey A. Parkhitko, Carmen Priolo, Jonathan L. Coloff, Jihye Yun, Julia J. Wu, Kenji Mizumura, Wenping Xu, Izabela A. Malinowska, Jane Yu, David J. Kwiatkowski, Jason W. Locasale, John M. Asara, Augustine M.K. Choi, Toren Finkel, Elizabeth P. Henske

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is hyperactive in many human cancers and in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Autophagy, a key mTORC1-targeted process, is a critical determinant of metabolic homeostasis. Metabolomic profiling was performed to elucidate the cellular consequences of autophagy dysregulation under conditions of hyperactive mTORC1. It was discovered that TSC2-null cells have distinctive autophagy-dependent pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) alterations. This was accompanied by enhanced glucose uptake and utilization, decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Importantly, these findings revealed that the PPP is a key autophagy-dependent compensatory metabolic mechanism. Furthermore, PPP inhibition with 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) in combination with autophagy inhibition suppressed proliferation and prompted the activation of NF-kB and CASP1 in TSC2-deficient, but not TSC2-proficient cells. These data demonstrate that TSC2-deficient cells can be therapeutically targeted, without mTORC1 inhibitors, by focusing on their metabolic vulnerabilities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)48-57
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular Cancer Research
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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