Project description:Although reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, little is known about how metabolic reprogramming contributes to early stages of transformation. Here, we show that the histone deacetylase SIRT6 regulates tumor initiation during intestinal cancer by controlling glucose metabolism. Loss of SIRT6 results in an increase in the number of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which translates into enhanced tumor initiating potential in APCmin mice. By tracking down the connection between glucose metabolism and tumor initiation, we find a metabolic compartmentalization within the intestinal epithelium and adenomas, where a rare population of cells exhibit features of Warburg-like metabolism characterized by high pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) activity. Our results show that these cells are quiescent cells expressing +4 ISCs and enteroendocrine markers. Active glycolysis in these cells suppresses ROS accumulation and enhances their stem cell and tumorigenic potential. Our studies reveal that aerobic glycolysis represents a heterogeneous feature of cancer, and indicate that this metabolic adaptation can occur in non-dividing cells, suggesting a role for the Warburg effect beyond biomass production in tumors.
Project description:BackgroundThe expression of PDK4 is elevated by diabetes, fasting and other conditions associated with the switch from the utilization of glucose to fatty acids as an energy source. It is previously shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), a master regulator of energy metabolism, coactivates in cell lines pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK4) gene expression via the estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα). We investigated the effects of long-term high-fat diet and physical activity on the expression of PDK4, PGC-1α and ERRα and the amount and function of mitochondria in skeletal muscle.MethodsInsulin resistance was induced by a high-fat (HF) diet for 19 weeks in C57BL/6 J mice, which were either sedentary or with access to running wheels. The skeletal muscle expression levels of PDK4, PGC-1α and ERRα were measured and the quality and quantity of mitochondrial function was assessed.ResultsThe HF mice were more insulin-resistant than the low-fat (LF) -fed mice. Upregulation of PDK4 and ERRα mRNA and protein levels were seen after the HF diet, and when combined with running even more profound effects on the mRNA expression levels were observed. Chronic HF feeding and voluntary running did not have significant effects on PGC-1α mRNA or protein levels. No remarkable difference was found in the amount or function of mitochondria.ConclusionsOur results support the view that insulin resistance is not mediated by the decreased qualitative or quantitative properties of mitochondria. Instead, the role of PDK4 should be contemplated as a possible contributor to high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance.
Project description:Most cancer cells primarily produce their energy through a high rate of glycolysis followed by lactic acid fermentation even in the presence of abundant oxygen. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) 1, an enzyme responsible for aerobic glycolysis via phosphorylating and inactivating pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex, is commonly overexpressed in tumors and recognized as a therapeutic target in colorectal cancer. Hemistepsin A (HsA) is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Hemistepta lyrata Bunge (Compositae). Here, we report that HsA is a PDK1 inhibitor can reduce the growth of colorectal cancer and consequent activation of mitochondrial ROS-dependent apoptotic pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Computational simulation and biochemical assays showed that HsA directly binds to the lipoamide-binding site of PDK1, and subsequently inhibits the interaction of PDK1 with the E2 subunit of PDH complex. As a result of PDK1 inhibition, lactate production was decreased, but oxygen consumption was increased. Mitochondrial ROS levels and mitochondrial damage were also increased. Consistent with these observations, the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells was promoted by HsA with enhanced activation of caspase-3 and -9. These results suggested that HsA might be a potential candidate for developing a novel anti-cancer drug through suppressing cancer metabolism.
Project description:Aerobic glycolysis is one of the important metabolic characteristics of many malignant tumors. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK) plays a key role in aerobic glycolysis by phosphorylating the E1α subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). Hence, PDHK has been recognized as a molecular target for cancer treatment. Here, we report that huzhangoside A (Hu.A), a triterpenoid glycoside compound isolated from several plants of the Anemone genus, acts as a novel PDHK inhibitor. Hu.A was found to decrease the cell viability of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231, hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B, colon cancer HT-29, DLD-1, and murine lewis lung carcinoma LLC cell lines. The activity of PDHK1 was decreased by Hu.A in both in vitro assays and in vivo assays in DLD-1 cells. Hu.A significantly increased the oxygen consumption and decreased the secretory lactate levels in DLD-1 cells. In addition, Hu.A interacted with the ATP-binding pocket of PDHK1 without affecting the interaction of PDHK1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) subunits. Furthermore, Hu.A significantly induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential in DLD-1 cells. Consistently, when Hu.A was intraperitoneally injected into LLC allograft mice, the tumor growth was significantly decreased. In conclusion, Hu.A suppressed the growth of tumors in both in vitro and in vivo models via inhibition of PDHK activity.
Project description:Mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDHK2) phosphorylates the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDC) and thereby controls the rate of oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate. The activity of PDHK2 is regulated by a variety of metabolites such as pyruvate, NAD (+), NADH, CoA, and acetyl-CoA. The inhibitory effect of pyruvate occurs through the unique binding site, which is specific for pyruvate and its synthetic analogue dichloroacetate (DCA). The effects of NAD (+), NADH, CoA, and acetyl-CoA are mediated by the binding site that recognizes the inner lipoyl-bearing domain (L2) of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2). Both allosteric sites are separated from the active site of PDHK2 by more than 20 A. Here we show that mutations of three amino acid residues located in the vicinity of the active site of PDHK2 (R250, T302, and Y320) make the kinase resistant to the inhibitory effect of DCA, thereby uncoupling the active site from the allosteric site. In addition, we provide evidence that substitutions of R250 and T302 can partially or completely uncouple the L2-binding site. Based on the available structural data, R250, T302, and Y320 stabilize the "open" and "closed" conformations of the built-in lid that controls the access of a nucleotide into the nucleotide-binding cavity. This strongly suggests that the mobility of ATP lid is central to the allosteric regulation of PDHK2 activity serving as a conformational switch required for communication between the active site and allosteric sites in the kinase molecule.
Project description:The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is a multienzyme assembly that converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. As pyruvate and acetyl-CoA play central roles in cellular metabolism, understanding PDC regulation is pivotal to understanding the larger metabolic network. The activity of mammalian PDC is regulated through reversible phosphorylation governed by at least four isozymes of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK). Deciphering which kinase regulates PDC in organisms at specific times or places has been challenging. In this study, we analyzed mouse strains carrying targeted mutations of individual isozymes to explore their role in regulating PDC activity. Analysis of protein content of PDK isozymes in major metabolic tissues revealed that PDK1 and PDK2 were ubiquitously expressed, whereas PDK3 and PDK4 displayed a rather limited tissue distribution. Measurement of kinase activity showed that PDK1 is the principal isozyme regulating hepatic PDC. PDK2 was largely responsible for inactivation of PDC in tissues of muscle origin and brown adipose tissue (BAT). PDK3 was the principal kinase regulating pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in kidney and brain. In a well-fed state, the tissue levels of PDK4 protein were fairly low. In most tissues tested, PDK4 ablation had little effect on the overall rates of inactivation of PDC in kinase reaction. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the activity of PDC is regulated by different isozymes in different tissues. Furthermore, it appears that the overall flux through PDC in a given tissue largely reflects the properties of the PDK isozyme that is principally responsible for the regulation of PDC activity in that tissue.
Project description:Total pyruvate dehydrogenase activities in hamster intestine increase from 40 nmol/min (munits) per g of intestine in the foetal animals to 460 munits/g in the adult, whereas the fraction of the enzyme in the active form increases from 34 to 42% of the total activity over the same period. However, a complete conversion of the enzyme into the active form is observed in the neonatal animal immediately after birth. Results from experiments in vitro suggested that the activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase is controlled, in part, by the [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio. This proposal was tested in vivo by examining the proportion of the enzyme in the active form during conditions when the [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio was markedly altered, and the data show a direct relationship between the mitochondrial redox state and activity of the active form.
Project description:The protein pirin, which is involved in a variety of biological processes, is conserved from prokaryotic microorganisms, fungi, and plants to mammals. It acts as a transcriptional cofactor or an apoptosis-related protein in mammals and is involved in seed germination and seedling development in plants. In prokaryotes, while pirin is stress induced in cyanobacteria and may act as a quercetinase in Escherichia coli, the functions of pirin orthologs remain mostly uncharacterized. We show that the Serratia marcescens pirin (pirin(Sm)) gene encodes an ortholog of pirin protein. Protein pull-down and bacterial two-hybrid assays followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry analyses showed the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) E1 subunit as a component interacting with the pirin(Sm) gene. Functional analyses showed that both PDH E1 subunit activity and PDH enzyme complex activity are inhibited by the pirin(Sm) gene in S. marcescens CH-1. The S. marcescens CH-1 pirin(Sm) gene was subsequently mutated by insertion-deletion homologous recombination. Accordingly, the PDH E1 and PDH enzyme complex activities and cellular ATP concentration increased up to 250%, 140%, and 220%, respectively, in the S. marcescens CH-1 pirin(Sm) mutant. Concomitantly, the cellular NADH/NAD(+) ratio increased in the pirin(Sm) mutant, indicating increased tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity. Our results show that the pirin(Sm) gene plays a regulatory role in the process of pyruvate catabolism to acetyl coenzyme A through interaction with the PDH E1 subunit and inhibiting PDH enzyme complex activity in S. marcescens CH-1, and they suggest that pirin(Sm) is an important protein involved in determining the direction of pyruvate metabolism towards either the TCA cycle or the fermentation pathways.
Project description:During replication, hepatitis C virus (HCV) utilizes macromolecules produced by its host cell. This process requires host cellular metabolic reprogramming to favor elevated levels of aerobic glycolysis. Therefore, we evaluated whether pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), a mitochondrial enzyme that promotes aerobic glycolysis, can regulate HCV replication. Levels of c-Myc, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), PDK1, PDK3, glucokinase, and serine biosynthetic enzymes were compared between HCV-infected and uninfected human liver and Huh-7.5 cells infected with or without HCV. Protein and mRNA expression of c-Myc, HIF-1α, and glycolytic enzymes were significantly higher in HCV-infected human liver and hepatocytes than in uninfected controls. This increase was accompanied by upregulation of serine biosynthetic enzymes, suggesting cellular metabolism was altered toward facilitated nucleotide synthesis essential for HCV replication. JQ1, a c-Myc inhibitor, and dichloroacetate (DCA), a PDK inhibitor, decreased the expression of glycolytic and serine synthetic enzymes in HCV-infected hepatocytes, resulting in suppressed viral replication. Furthermore, when co-administered with IFN-α or ribavirin, DCA further inhibited viral replication. In summary, HCV reprograms host cell metabolism to favor glycolysis and serine biosynthesis; this is mediated, at least in part, by increased PDK activity, which provides a surplus of nucleotide precursors. Therefore, blocking PDK activity might have therapeutic benefits against HCV replication.
Project description:The human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is regulated by reversible phosphorylation by four isoforms of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK). PDKs phosphorylate serine residues in the dehydrogenase (E1p) component of PDC, but their amino-acid sequences are unrelated to eukaryotic Ser/Thr/Tyr protein kinases. PDK3 binds to the inner lipoyl domains (L2) from the 60-meric transacetylase (E2p) core of PDC, with concomitant stimulated kinase activity. Here, we present crystal structures of the PDK3-L2 complex with and without bound ADP or ATP. These structures disclose that the C-terminal tail from one subunit of PDK3 dimer constitutes an integral part of the lipoyl-binding pocket in the N-terminal domain of the opposing subunit. The two swapped C-terminal tails promote conformational changes in active-site clefts of both PDK3 subunits, resulting in largely disordered ATP lids in the ADP-bound form. Our structural and biochemical data suggest that L2 binding stimulates PDK3 activity by disrupting the ATP lid, which otherwise traps ADP, to remove product inhibition exerted by this nucleotide. We hypothesize that this allosteric mechanism accounts, in part, for E2p-augmented PDK3 activity.