Project description:High levels of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) transaminase 1 (Bcat1) have been associated with adverse prognosis and drug resistance in several cancer types. However, the mechanistic role of Bcat1 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) development is ill defined.We determined the effects of BCAT1 depletion on cellular sensitivity to DNA damaging agents (etoposide).
Project description:High levels of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) transaminase 1 (Bcat1) have been associated with adverse prognosis and drug resistance in several cancer types. However, the mechanistic role of Bcat1 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) development is ill defined. Here, we used a mouse T-ALL model to show that Bcat1 is required for T-ALL development and maintenance. Using a NOTCH1 gain-of-function retroviral model of T-ALL, mouse cells genetically deficient for Bcat1 showed defects in developing leukemia. Amongst the pathways upregulated in Bcat1 KO delta E-NOTCH1 cells we found “DNA repair”, “apoptosis”, and “p53 pathway”. We thus hypothesize that Bcat1 may be implicated in cell cycle progression or apoptosis of T-ALL cells.
Project description:In this report, we revealed that branched chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) is highly enriched in both mouse and human TKI-resistant CML cells. Leukemia was almost completely abrogated upon BCAT1 knockdown during transplantation in a BCR-ABLT315I-induced murine TKI-resistant CML model . Moreover, knockdown of BCAT1 led to a dramatic decrease in the proliferation of TKI-resistant human leukemia cell lines. BCAA/BCAT1 signaling enhanced the phosphorylation of CREB, which is required for maintenance of TKI-resistant CML cells. Importantly, blockade of BCAA/BCAT1 signaling efficiently inhibited leukemogenesis both in vivo and in vitro.
