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Project description:Deciphering the impact of metabolic intervention on response to anticancer therapy may elucidate a path toward improved clinical responses. Here, we identify amino acid-related pathways connected to the folate cycle whose activation predicts sensitivity to MYC-targeting therapies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We establish that folate restriction and deficiency of the rate-limiting folate cycle enzyme MTHFR, which exhibits reduced-function polymorphisms in about 10% of Caucasians, induce resistance to MYC targeting by BET and CDK7 inhibitors in cell lines, primary patient samples, and syngeneic mouse models of AML. Furthermore, this effect is abrogated by supplementation with the MTHFR enzymatic product CH3-THF. Mechanistically, folate cycle disturbance reduces H3K27/K9 histone methylation and activates a SPI1 transcriptional program counteracting the effect of BET inhibition. Our data provide a rationale for screening MTHFR polymorphisms and folate cycle status to nominate patients most likely to benefit from MYC-targeting therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: Although MYC-targeting therapies represent a promising strategy for cancer treatment, evidence of predictors of sensitivity to these agents is limited. We pinpoint that folate cycle disturbance and frequent polymorphisms associated with reduced MTHFR activity promote resistance to BET inhibitors. CH3-THF supplementation thus represents a low-risk intervention to enhance their effects.See related commentary by Marando and Huntly, p. 1791.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1775.
| S-EPMC8044910 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The Folate Cycle Enzyme MTHFR is a Critical Regulator of Cell Response to MYC-Targeting Therapies
| PRJNA639365 | ENA
Project description:Studies of rare, inborn metabolic diseases establish that the phenotypes of some mutations in vitamin-dependent enzymes can be suppressed by supplementation of the cognate vitamin, which restores function of the defective enzyme. To determine whether polymorphisms exist that more subtly affect enzymes yet are augmentable in the same way, we sequenced the coding region of a prototypical vitamin-dependent enzyme, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), from 564 individuals of diverse ethnicities. All nonsynonymous changes were evaluated in functional in vivo assays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify enzymatic defects and folate remediability of impaired alleles. We identified 14 nonsynonymous changes: 11 alleles with minor allele frequencies <1% and 3 common alleles (A222V, E429A, and R594Q). Four of 11 low-frequency alleles affected enzyme function, as did A222V. Of the five impaired alleles, four could be restored to normal functionality by elevating intracellular folate levels. All five impaired alleles mapped to the N-terminal catalytic domain of the enzyme, whereas changes in the C-terminal regulatory domain had little effect on activity. Impaired activity correlated with the phosphorylation state of MTHFR, with more severe mutations resulting in lower abundance of the phosphorylated protein. Significantly, diploid yeast heterozygous for mutant alleles were impaired for growth, particularly with lower folate supplementation. These results suggested that multiple less-frequent alleles, in aggregate, might significantly contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Furthermore, vitamin remediation of mutant enzymes may be a common phenomenon in certain domains of proteins.
| S-EPMC2430358 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Cancer cells preferentially utilize glucose and glutamine, which provide macromolecules and antioxidants that sustain rapid cell division. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer drives an increased glycolytic rate that supports maximal production of these nutrients. The folate cycle, through transfer of a carbon unit between tetrahydrofolate and its derivatives in the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartments, produces other metabolites that are essential for cell growth, including nucleotides, methionine, and the antioxidant NADPH. Here, using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a cancer model, we have observed a reduction in growth rate upon withdrawal of folate. We found that an enzyme in the folate cycle, methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1-like (MTHFD1L), plays an essential role in support of cancer growth. We determined that MTHFD1L is transcriptionally activated by NRF2, a master regulator of redox homeostasis. Our observations further suggest that MTHFD1L contributes to the production and accumulation of NADPH to levels that are sufficient to combat oxidative stress in cancer cells. The elevation of oxidative stress through MTHFD1L knockdown or the use of methotrexate, an antifolate drug, sensitizes cancer cells to sorafenib, a targeted therapy for HCC. Taken together, our study identifies MTHFD1L in the folate cycle as an important metabolic pathway in cancer cells with the potential for therapeutic targeting.
| S-EPMC5409797 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Identification of new molecular targets is needed for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1 like (MTHFD1L), an enzyme in the folate cycle, is involved in formate generation and therefore in one-carbon metabolism. Here, we examined the expression and the role of MTHFD1L in CRC progression. Bioinformatics analysis of several public databases showed overexpression of MTHFD1L in CRC tissues as compared to normal tissues. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting revealed that expressions of MTHFD1L RNA and protein were higher in CRC tissues compared to their corresponding normal tissues of CRC patients. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated higher cytoplasmic MTHFD1L reactivity in tumor tissues compared to paired normal tissues. Further, to determine the functional relevance of MTHFD1L, it was knocked down by an siRNA in CRC cells. Silencing of MTHFD1L inhibited CRC cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration. Thus, to our knowledge for the first time in the literature, we show that MTHFD1L is involved in CRC progression and that blocking of MTHFD1L decreases the growth of colon cancer cells, thus providing an avenue to target this enzyme with small molecule inhibitors.
| S-EPMC6704443 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Metabolic enzymes and metabolites display non-metabolic functions in immune cell signalling that modulate immune attack ability. However, whether and how a tumour's metabolic remodelling contributes to its immune resistance remain to be clarified. Here we perform a functional screen of metabolic genes that rescue tumour cells from effector T cell cytotoxicity, and identify the embryo- and tumour-specific folate cycle enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2). Mechanistically, MTHFD2 promotes basal and IFN-γ-stimulated PD-L1 expression, which is necessary for tumourigenesis in vivo. Moreover, IFN-γ stimulates MTHFD2 through the AKT-mTORC1 pathway. Meanwhile, MTHFD2 drives the folate cycle to sustain sufficient uridine-related metabolites including UDP-GlcNAc, which promotes the global O-GlcNAcylation of proteins including cMYC, resulting in increased cMYC stability and PD-L1 transcription. Consistently, the O-GlcNAcylation level positively correlates with MTHFD2 and PD-L1 in pancreatic cancer patients. These findings uncover a non-metabolic role for MTHFD2 in cell signalling and cancer biology.
| S-EPMC8007798 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that low folate diet (control diet with 2mg folate/kg, low folate diet with 0.3mg folate/kg) can induce intestinal tumors in BALB/c mice. We used microarrays to compare MTHFR+/+ BALB/c mice fed control diet and MTHFR+/- BALB/c mice fed low folate diet.
2013-12-03 | GSE34011 | GEO
Project description:Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that low folate diet (control diet with 2mg folate/kg, low folate diet with 0.3mg folate/kg) can induce intestinal tumors in BALB/c mice. We used microarrays to compare MTHFR+/+ BALB/c mice fed control diet and MTHFR+/- BALB/c mice fed low folate diet. After weaning, 4 BALB/c Mthfr +/+ mice were fed with a control diet (CD, 2mg folate/kg) and 4 BALB/c Mthfr +/- mice were fed a low folate diet (FD, 0.3mg folate/kg) for 1 year. Both diets contain succinylsulfanthiozole (1%) to prevent folate synthesis by intestine microbial biota.
2013-12-03 | E-GEOD-34011 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Background: The well-characterized function of the transcriptional repressor, Slug, is to promote EMT and tumor invasion/metastasis by down-regulating E-cadherin expression. In this study, we investigated the significance of Slug during the S phase. Method: Slug mRNA expression was isolated from thymidine-arrested CL1-5/AS2neo (control) and CL1-5/AS2neo-Slug-WT stable cells. The Agilent oligonucleotide microarray analysis was performed to identify Slug downstream genes. Results: Overexpression of Slug inhibited lung [3H]-thymidine incorporation and delayed S phase progression. By using Agilent microarray we have identified panel of genes altered by Slug overexpression. Slug can down-regulate target genes about cell cycle networks for DNA replication, DNA replication checkpoint and genomic stability, such as TOP1, ORC4, RFC3, and Rad17. Conclusions: the multifaceted role of Slug in cancer progression by controlling the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and genome stability. Two-condition experiment, Vector vs. Slug overexpression cells. The cDNAs encoding full-length human Slug were amplified and subcloned into lentiviral pLKO_AS2.neo which generated full-length Slug. Vector control or Slug lentivirus were transduced into CL1-5 cells and Gentamycin was used to select stable cells.
2012-02-09 | E-GEOD-35617 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Adequate levels of folates are essential for homeostasis of the organism, prevention of congenital malformations, and the salvage of predisposed disease states. They depend on genetic predisposition, and therefore, a pharmacogenetic approach to individualized supplementation or therapeutic intervention is necessary for an optimal outcome. The role of folates in vital cell processes was investigated by translational pharmacogenetics employing lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Depriving cells of folates led to reversible S-phase arrest. Since 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of an active folate form, we evaluated the relevance of polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene on intracellular levels of bioactive metabolite, the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-Me-THF). LCLs (n = 35) were divided into low- and normal-MTHFR activity groups based on their genotype. They were cultured in the presence of folic acid (FA) or 5-Me-THF. Based on the cells' metabolic activity and intracellular 5-Me-THF levels, we conclude supplementation of FA is sufficient to maintain adequate folate level in the normal MTHFR activity group, while low MTHFR activity cells require 5-Me-THF to overcome the metabolic defects caused by polymorphisms in their MTHFR genes. This finding was supported by the determination of intracellular levels of 5-Me-THF in cell lysates by LC-MS/MS. FA supplementation resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in 5-Me-THF in cells with normal MTHFR activity, but there was no increase after FA supplementation in low MTHFR activity cells. However, when LCLs were exposed to 5-Me-THF, a 10-fold increase in intracellular levels of this metabolite was determined. These findings indicate that patients undergoing folate supplementation to counteract anti-folate therapies, or patients with increased folate demand, would benefit from pharmacogenetics-based therapy choices.
| S-EPMC7564482 | biostudies-literature