Project description:Prostate cancer (PCa) growth depends on de novo lipogenesis controlled by the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). In this study, we identified lysine methyltransferase (KMT)9 as a novel regulator of PDC activity. KMT9 is localized in mitochondria of PCa cells, but not in mitochondria of other tumor cell types. Mitochondrial KMT9 regulates PDC activity by monomethylation of its subunit dihydrolipoamide transacetylase (DLAT) at lysine 596. Depletion of KMT9 compromises PDC activity, de novo lipogenesis, and PCa cell proliferation, which can be rescued with exogenous KMT9 targeted to mitochondria. Similarly, comparable defects caused by DLAT depletion can be rescued with exogenous DLAT, but not with a methylation-defective DLAT mutant. Concomitant chemical inhibition of de novo lipogenesis and KMT9 depletion more efficiently impair PCa cell proliferation than either treatment alone. Importantly, KMT9 controls PDC activity, de novo lipogenesis, and tumor growth in a PCa mouse model. Finally, in human patients, levels of mitochondrial KMT9 and DLAT K596me1 correlate with Gleason grade. Together, we present a novel mechanism of PDC regulation and the first example of a histone methyltransferase with nuclear and mitochondrial functions. The exceptional dependency on mitochondrial KMT9 allows to develop novel therapeutic strategies to fight PCa.
Project description:Here, we revealed that Zbtb7b is a suppressor of MASLD-related HCC. Zbtb7b deficiency in mouse hepatocytes increases de novo lipogenesis while hepatic fatty acid oxidation is inhibited. Consequently, lipid deposition in the liver is increased, which facilitating the progression of MASLD and eventually to HCC. Mechanistically, depletion of Zbtb7b drastically induced long noncoding RNA H19 expression, thereby driving hepatic de novo lipogenesis and suppressing fatty acid oxidation program to accelerate MASLD-related HCC progression.
Project description:Mechanisms controlling the proliferative activity of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) play a pivotal role to ensure life-long neurogenesis in the mammalian brain. How metabolic programs are coupled with NSPC activity remains unknown. Here we show that fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key enzyme of de novo lipogenesis, is highly active in adult NSPCs and that conditional deletion of FASN in NSPCs impairs adult neurogenesis. The rate of de novo lipid synthesis and subsequent proliferation of NSPCs is regulated by Spot14, a gene we found to be selectively expressed in low proliferating adult NSPCs. Spot14 reduces the availability of malonyl-CoA, which is an essential substrate for FASN to fuel lipogenesis. Thus, we here identified a functional coupling between the regulation of lipid metabolism and adult NSPC proliferation. 6 samples were analyzed. Spot14+: Spot14 GFP positive mouse neural stem cell, 3 biological rep Spot14-: Spot14 GFP negative mouse neural stem cell, 3 biological rep
Project description:We report the role of YAP in promoting de novo lipogenesis through the SREBP transcriptional program. By using paired-end RNA sequencing, we show that transgenic zebrafish livers expressing activted YAP exhibit an increase in SREBP target genes associated with lipogenesis. The paired-end RNA sequencing was performed in larval zebrafish livers at 7 days post fertilization (7 dpf)
Project description:Fate and behaviour of neural progenitor cells is tightly regulated during mammalian brain development. Metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, that are required for supplying energy and providing molecular building blocks to generate cells, govern progenitor function. However, the role of de novo lipogenesis, which is the conversion of glucose into fatty acids through the multi-enzyme protein fatty acid synthase (FASN), for brain development remains unknown. Using Emx1Cre-mediated, tissue-specific deletion of Fasn in the mouse embryonic telencephalon, we show that loss of FASN causes severe microcephaly, largely due to altered polarity of apical, radial glia progenitors (APs) and reduced progenitor proliferation. Further, genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of FASN in human embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived forebrain organoids identifies a conserved role of FASN-dependent lipogenesis for radial glia cell polarity and progenitor expansion in the developing human forebrain. Thus, our data establish a role of de novo lipogenesis for mouse and human brain development and identify a link between progenitor cell polarity and lipid metabolism.
Project description:Toll-like receptors/Interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling plays an important role in High-fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose tissue dysfunction contributing to obesity-associated metabolic syndromes. Here, we show an unconventional IL-1R-IRAKM (IL-1R-associated kinase M)-Slc25a1 signaling axis in adipocytes that reprograms lipogenesis to promote diet-induced obesity. Adipocyte-specific deficiency of IRAKM reduced HFD-induced body weight gain, increased whole body energy expenditure and improved insulin resistance, associated with decreased lipid accumulation and adipocyte cell sizes. IL-1β stimulation induced the translocation of IRAKM Myddosome to mitochondria to promote de novo lipogenesis in adipocytes. Mechanistically, IRAKM interacts with and phosphorylates mitochondrial citrate carrier Slc25a1 to promote IL-1β-induced mitochondrial citrate transport to cytosol and de novo lipogenesis. Moreover, IRAKM-Slc25a1 axis mediates IL-1β induced Pgc1a acetylation to regulate thermogenic gene expression in adipocytes. IRAKM kinase-inactivation also attenuated HFD-induced obesity. Taken together, our study suggests that the IL-1R-IRAKM-Slc25a1 signaling axis tightly links inflammation and adipocyte metabolism, indicating a novel therapeutic target for obesity.
Project description:Mechanisms controlling the proliferative activity of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) play a pivotal role to ensure life-long neurogenesis in the mammalian brain. How metabolic programs are coupled with NSPC activity remains unknown. Here we show that fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key enzyme of de novo lipogenesis, is highly active in adult NSPCs and that conditional deletion of FASN in NSPCs impairs adult neurogenesis. The rate of de novo lipid synthesis and subsequent proliferation of NSPCs is regulated by Spot14, a gene we found to be selectively expressed in low proliferating adult NSPCs. Spot14 reduces the availability of malonyl-CoA, which is an essential substrate for FASN to fuel lipogenesis. Thus, we here identified a functional coupling between the regulation of lipid metabolism and adult NSPC proliferation.