title: Loss of the tumor suppressor LKB1 promotes metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells via HIF-1α.
abstract: One of the major metabolic changes associated with cellular transformation is enhanced nutrient utilization, which supports tumor progression by fueling both energy production and providing biosynthetic intermediates for growth. The liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a serine/threonine kinase and tumor suppressor that couples bioenergetics to cell-growth control through regulation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity; however, the influence of LKB1 on tumor metabolism is not well defined. Here, we show that loss of LKB1 induces a progrowth metabolic program in proliferating cells. Cells lacking LKB1 display increased glucose and glutamine uptake and utilization, which support both cellular ATP levels and increased macromolecular biosynthesis. This LKB1-dependent reprogramming of cell metabolism is dependent on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which accumulates under normoxia in LKB1-deficient cells and is antagonized by inhibition of mTOR complex I signaling. Silencing HIF-1α reverses the metabolic advantages conferred by reduced LKB1 signaling and impairs the growth and survival of LKB1-deficient tumor cells under low-nutrient conditions. Together, our data implicate the tumor suppressor LKB1 as a central regulator of tumor metabolism and growth control through the regulation of HIF-1α-dependent metabolic reprogramming.
authors.affiliation: Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 1A3.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faubert
authors.forename: Emma E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Takla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griss
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samborska
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izreig
authors.forename: Robert U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Orval A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Mamer
authors.forename: Daina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Avizonis
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Shackelford
authors.forename: Reuben J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Russell G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000091162:AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D000076222:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005973:Glutamine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000076222:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C109790:STK11 protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000091162:AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D005947:Glucose
keywords: HIF-1alpha; PJS; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome; Warburg effect; cancer metabolism; glutamine metabolism