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Bio

Bio

Education

University of Pennsylvania (Doctor of Philosophy) 2010 Cancer Biology
Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Bachelor of Science) 2004 Biological Science

Research Experience

2016.9-present Assistant Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University
Research interests: The interaction between metabolic stress and chromatin remodeling.

2011-2016 Research Scholar
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Laboratory of Craig B. Thompson, M.D.
Research interests: Serine and one-carbon unit metabolism in cancer; Nutrient-sensing mechanisms in mammalian cells.

2010-2011 Postdoctoral Fellow
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Laboratory of Craig B. Thompson, M.D.

2005-2010 Graduate Student
Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University (2005-2006) and Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2006-2010), Laboratory of Constantinos Koumenis, Ph.D
Dissertation: THE ROLE OF THE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR ATF4 IN TUMOR PROGRESSION UNDER NUTRIENT DEPRIVATION AND HYPOXIA

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Affiliated Faculty, Stanford Bio-X (2016 - Present)
  • Member, The Child Health Research Institute (CHRI) at Stanford (2016 - Present)
  • Member, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (2016 - Present)
  • Member, Cancer Epigenetics Society (2017 - Present)
  • Associate Member, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection (2018 - Present)
  • Member, American Association of Cancer Research (2018 - Present)

Contact

Links

Research & Scholarship

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

One hallmark of cancer is that malignant cells modulate metabolic pathways to promote cancer progression. My professional interest is to investigate the causes and consequences of the abnormal metabolic phenotypes of cancer cells in response to microenvironmental stresses such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, with the prospect that therapeutic approaches might be developed to target these metabolic pathways to improve cancer treatment.

Teaching

2020-21 Courses

Stanford Advisees

Graduate and Fellowship Programs

Publications

All Publications

  • Developing metabolic intervention strategies to reprogram neuroblastoma epigenome and overcome tumor resistance to differentiation therapy Jiang, H., Li, Y., Yip, M., Gruber, J., Li, A., Ye, J. AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. 2020

    View details for Web of Science ID 000596811500061

  • The PHGDH enigma: do cancer cells only need serine or also a redox modulator? Cancer letters Li, A. M., Ye, J. 2020

    Abstract

    Upregulation of serine biosynthesis pathway activity is an increasingly apparent feature of many cancers. Most notably, the first rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), is genomically amplified in some melanomas and breast cancers and can be transcriptionally regulated by various tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Yet emerging evidence suggests that serine-in particular, serine biosynthetic pathway activity-may promote cancer in ways beyond providing the building blocks to support cell proliferation. Here, we summarize how mammalian cells tightly control serine synthesis before discussing alternate ways in which increased serine synthetic flux through PHGDH may benefit cancer cells, such as maintenance of TCA cycle flux through alpha-ketoglutarate (?KG) and modulation of cellular redox balance. We will also provide an overview of the current landscape of therapeutics targeting serine synthesis and offer a perspective on future strategies.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.01.036

    View details for PubMedID 32032680

  • Reprogramming of serine, glycine and one-carbon metabolism in cancer. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease Li, A. M., Ye, J. 2020: 165841

    Abstract

    Metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis, uptake, and usage of the nonessential amino acid serine are frequently amplified in cancer. Serine encounters diverse fates in cancer cells, including being charged onto tRNAs for protein synthesis, providing head groups for sphingolipid and phospholipid synthesis, and serving as a precursor for cellular glycine and one-carbon units, which are necessary for nucleotide synthesis and methionine cycle reloading. This review will focus on the participation of serine and glycine in the mitochondrial one-carbon (SGOC) pathway during cancer progression, with an emphasis on the genetic and epigenetic determinants that drive SGOC gene expression. We will discuss recently elucidated roles for SGOC metabolism in nucleotide synthesis, redox balance, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic modifications. Finally, therapeutic considerations for targeting SGOC metabolism in the clinic will be discussed.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165841

    View details for PubMedID 32439610

  • The m6A RNA demethylase FTO is a HIF-independent synthetic lethal partner with the VHL tumor suppressor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Xiao, Y., Thakkar, K. N., Zhao, H., Broughton, J., Li, Y., Seoane, J. A., Diep, A. N., Metzner, T. J., von Eyben, R., Dill, D. L., Brooks, J. D., Curtis, C., Leppert, J. T., Ye, J., Peehl, D. M., Giaccia, A. J., Sinha, S., Rankin, E. B. 2020

    Abstract

    Loss of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor is a hallmark feature of renal clear cell carcinoma. VHL inactivation results in the constitutive activation of the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) HIF-1 and HIF-2 and their downstream targets, including the proangiogenic factors VEGF and PDGF. However, antiangiogenic agents and HIF-2 inhibitors have limited efficacy in cancer therapy due to the development of resistance. Here we employed an innovative computational platform, Mining of Synthetic Lethals (MiSL), to identify synthetic lethal interactions with the loss of VHL through analysis of primary tumor genomic and transcriptomic data. Using this approach, we identified a synthetic lethal interaction between VHL and the m6A RNA demethylase FTO in renal cell carcinoma. MiSL identified FTO as a synthetic lethal partner of VHL because deletions of FTO are mutually exclusive with VHL loss in pan cancer datasets. Moreover, FTO expression is increased in VHL-deficient ccRCC tumors compared to normal adjacent tissue. Genetic inactivation of FTO using multiple orthogonal approaches revealed that FTO inhibition selectively reduces the growth and survival of VHL-deficient cells in vitro and in vivo. Notably, FTO inhibition reduced the survival of both HIF wild type and HIF-deficient tumors, identifying FTO as an HIF-independent vulnerability of VHL-deficient cancers. Integrated analysis of transcriptome-wide m6A-seq and mRNA-seq analysis identified the glutamine transporter SLC1A5 as an FTO target that promotes metabolic reprogramming and survival of VHL-deficient ccRCC cells. These findings identify FTO as a potential HIF-independent therapeutic target for the treatment of VHL-deficient renal cell carcinoma.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.2000516117

    View details for PubMedID 32817424

  • Metabolic Profiling Reveals a Dependency of Human Metastatic Breast Cancer on Mitochondrial Serine and One-Carbon Unit Metabolism. Molecular cancer research : MCR Li, A. M., Ducker, G. S., Li, Y., Seoane, J. A., Xiao, Y., Melemenidis, S., Zhou, Y., Liu, L., Vanharanta, S., Graves, E. E., Rankin, E. B., Curtis, C., Massague, J., Rabinowitz, J. D., Thompson, C. B., Ye, J. 2020

    Abstract

    Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women and a major cause of mortality. To identify metabolic pathways as potential targets to treat metastatic breast cancer, we performed metabolomics profiling on breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and its tissue-tropic metastatic subclones. Here, we report that these subclones with increased metastatic potential display an altered metabolic profile compared to the parental population. In particular, the mitochondrial serine and one-carbon (1C) unit pathway is upregulated in metastatic subclones. Mechanistically, the mitochondrial serine and 1C unit pathway drives the faster proliferation of subclones through enhanced de novo purine biosynthesis. Inhibition of the first rate-limiting enzyme of the mitochondrial serine and 1C unit pathway, serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT2), potently suppresses proliferation of metastatic subclones in culture and impairs growth of lung metastatic subclones at both primary and metastatic sites in mice. Some human breast cancers exhibit a significant association between the expression of genes in the mitochondrial serine and 1C unit pathway with disease outcome and higher expression of SHMT2 in metastatic tumor tissue compared to primary tumors. In addition to breast cancer, a few other cancer types, such as adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and kidney chromophobe cell carcinoma (KICH), also display increased SHMT2 expression during disease progression. Together, these results suggest that mitochondrial serine and 1C unit plays an important role in promoting cancer progression, particularly in late stage cancer. Implications: This study identifies mitochondrial serine and 1C unit metabolism as an important pathway during the progression of a subset of human breast cancers.

    View details for DOI 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-19-0606

    View details for PubMedID 31941752

  • p53 deficiency triggers dysregulation of diverse cellular processes in physiological oxygen. The Journal of cell biology Valente, L. J., Tarangelo, A., Li, A. M., Naciri, M., Raj, N., Boutelle, A. M., Li, Y., Mello, S. S., Bieging-Rolett, K., DeBerardinis, R. J., Ye, J., Dixon, S. J., Attardi, L. D. 2020; 219 (11)

    Abstract

    The mechanisms by which TP53, the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer, suppresses tumorigenesis remain unclear. p53 modulates various cellular processes, such as apoptosis and proliferation, which has led to distinct cellular mechanisms being proposed for p53-mediated tumor suppression in different contexts. Here, we asked whether during tumor suppression p53 might instead regulate a wide range of cellular processes. Analysis of mouse and human oncogene-expressing wild-type and p53-deficient cells in physiological oxygen conditions revealed that p53 loss concurrently impacts numerous distinct cellular processes, including apoptosis, genome stabilization, DNA repair, metabolism, migration, and invasion. Notably, some phenotypes were uncovered only in physiological oxygen. Transcriptomic analysis in this setting highlighted underappreciated functions modulated by p53, including actin dynamics. Collectively, these results suggest that p53 simultaneously governs diverse cellular processes during transformation suppression, an aspect of p53 function that would provide a clear rationale for its frequent inactivation in human cancer.

    View details for DOI 10.1083/jcb.201908212

    View details for PubMedID 32886745

  • Novel Aza-podophyllotoxin derivative induces oxidative phosphorylation and cell death via AMPK activation in triple-negative breast cancer. British journal of cancer Tailor, D., Going, C. C., Resendez, A., Kumar, V., Nambiar, D. K., Li, Y., Dheeraj, A., LaGory, E. L., Ghoochani, A., Birk, A. M., Stoyanova, T., Ye, J., Giaccia, A. J., Le, Q. T., Singh, R. P., Sledge, G. W., Pitteri, S. J., Malhotra, S. V. 2020

    Abstract

    To circumvent Warburg effect, several clinical trials for different cancers are utilising a combinatorial approach using metabolic reprogramming and chemotherapeutic agents including metformin. The majority of these metabolic interventions work via indirectly activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to alter cellular metabolism in favour of oxidative phosphorylation over aerobic glycolysis. The effect of these drugs is dependent on glycaemic and insulin conditions.  Therefore, development of small molecules, which can activate AMPK, irrespective of the energy state, may be a better approach for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment.Therapeutic effect of SU212 on TNBC cells was examined using in vitro and in vivo models.We developed and characterised the efficacy of novel AMPK activator (SU212) that selectively induces oxidative phosphorylation and decreases glycolysis in TNBC cells, while not affecting these pathways in normal cells.   SU212 accomplished this metabolic reprogramming by activating AMPK independent of energy stress and irrespective of the glycaemic/insulin state. This leads to mitotic phase arrest and apoptosis in TNBC cells. In vivo, SU212 inhibits tumour growth, cancer progression and metastasis.SU212 directly activates AMPK in TNBC cells, but does not hamper glucose metabolism in normal cells. Our study provides compelling preclinical data for further development of SU212 for the treatment of TNBC.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41416-020-01137-4

    View details for PubMedID 33139797

  • Acetate supplementation restores chromatin accessibility and promotes tumor cell differentiation under hypoxia. Cell death & disease Li, Y., Gruber, J. J., Litzenburger, U. M., Zhou, Y., Miao, Y. R., LaGory, E. L., Li, A. M., Hu, Z., Yip, M., Hart, L. S., Maris, J. M., Chang, H. Y., Giaccia, A. J., Ye, J. 2020; 11 (2): 102

    Abstract

    Despite the fact that Otto H. Warburg discovered the Warburg effect almost one hundred years ago, why cancer cells waste most of the glucose carbon as lactate remains an enigma. Warburg proposed a connection between the Warburg effect and cell dedifferentiation. Hypoxia is a common tumor microenvironmental stress that induces the Warburg effect and blocks tumor cell differentiation. The underlying mechanism by which this occurs is poorly understood, and no effective therapeutic strategy has been developed to overcome this resistance to differentiation. Using a neuroblastoma differentiation model, we discovered that hypoxia repressed cell differentiation through reducing cellular acetyl-CoA levels, leading to reduction of global histone acetylation and chromatin accessibility. The metabolic switch triggering this global histone hypoacetylation was the induction of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDK1 and PDK3). Inhibition of PDKs using dichloroacetate (DCA) restored acetyl-CoA generation and histone acetylation under hypoxia. Knocking down PDK1 induced neuroblastoma cell differentiation, highlighting the critical role of PDK1 in cell fate control. Importantly, acetate or glycerol triacetate (GTA) supplementation restored differentiation markers expression and neuron differentiation under hypoxia. Moreover, ATAC-Seq analysis demonstrated that hypoxia treatment significantly reduced chromatin accessibility at RAR/RXR binding sites, which can be restored by acetate supplementation. In addition, hypoxia-induced histone hypermethylation by increasing 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) and reducing ?-ketoglutarate (?KG). ?KG supplementation reduced histone hypermethylation upon hypoxia, but did not restore histone acetylation or differentiation markers expression. Together, these findings suggest that diverting pyruvate flux away from acetyl-CoA generation to lactate production is the key mechanism that Warburg effect drives dedifferentiation and tumorigenesis. We propose that combining differentiation therapy with acetate/GTA supplementation might represent an effective therapy against neuroblastoma.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41419-020-2303-9

    View details for PubMedID 32029721

  • Acetate supplementation eliminates hypoxia mediated resistance to differentiation therapy in neuroblastoma cells Li, Y., Zhou, Y., Maris, J. M., Giaccia, A. J., Ye, J. AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. 2019

    View details for DOI 10.1158/1538-7445.SABCS18-3798

    View details for Web of Science ID 000488279403199

  • ATF4 couples MYC-dependent translational activity to bioenergetic demands during tumour progression. Nature cell biology Tameire, F., Verginadis, I. I., Leli, N. M., Polte, C., Conn, C. S., Ojha, R., Salas Salinas, C., Chinga, F., Monroy, A. M., Fu, W., Wang, P., Kossenkov, A., Ye, J., Amaravadi, R. K., Ignatova, Z., Fuchs, S. Y., Diehl, J. A., Ruggero, D., Koumenis, C. 2019; 21 (7): 889?99

    Abstract

    The c-Myc oncogene drives malignant progression and induces robust anabolic and proliferative programmes leading to intrinsic stress. The mechanisms enabling adaptation to MYC-induced stress are not fully understood. Here we reveal an essential role for activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in survival following MYC activation. MYC upregulates ATF4 by activating general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) kinase through uncharged transfer RNAs. Subsequently, ATF4 co-occupies promoter regions of over 30 MYC-target genes, primarily those regulating amino acid and protein synthesis, including eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), a negative regulator of translation. 4E-BP1 relieves MYC-induced proteotoxic stress and is essential to balance protein synthesis. 4E-BP1 activity is negatively regulated by mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-dependent phosphorylation and inhibition of mTORC1 signalling rescues ATF4-deficient cells from MYC-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. Acute deletion of ATF4 significantly delays MYC-driven tumour progression and increases survival in mouse models. Our results establish ATF4 as a cellular rheostat of MYC activity, which ensures that enhanced translation rates are compatible with survival and tumour progression.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41556-019-0347-9

    View details for PubMedID 31263264

  • p53 Suppresses Metabolic Stress-Induced Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells CELL REPORTS Tarangelo, A., Magtanong, L., Bieging-Rolett, K. T., Li, Y., Ye, J., Attardi, L. D., Dixon, S. J. 2018; 22 (3): 569?75

    Abstract

    How cancer cells respond to nutrient deprivation remains poorly understood. In certain cancer cells, deprivation of cystine induces a non-apoptotic, iron-dependent form of cell death termed ferroptosis. Recent evidence suggests that ferroptosis sensitivity may be modulated by the stress-responsive transcription factor and canonical tumor suppressor protein p53. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, small-molecule probes, and high-resolution, time-lapse imaging, we find that stabilization of wild-type p53 delays the onset of ferroptosis in response to cystine deprivation. This delay requires the p53 transcriptional target CDKN1A (encoding p21) and is associated with both slower depletion of intracellular glutathione and a reduced accumulation of toxic lipid-reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, the p53-p21 axis may help cancer cells cope with metabolic stress induced by cystine deprivation by delaying the onset of non-apoptotic cell death.

    View details for PubMedID 29346757

  • GCN2 sustains mTORC1 suppression upon amino acid deprivation by inducing Sestrin2 GENES & DEVELOPMENT Ye, J., Palm, W., Peng, M., King, B., Lindsten, T., Li, M. O., Koumenis, C., Thompson, C. B. 2015; 29 (22): 2331-2336

    Abstract

    Mammalian cells possess two amino acid-sensing kinases: general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Their combined effects orchestrate cellular adaptation to amino acid levels, but how their activities are coordinated remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an important link between GCN2 and mTORC1 signaling. Upon deprivation of various amino acids, activated GCN2 up-regulates ATF4 to induce expression of the stress response protein Sestrin2, which is required to sustain repression of mTORC1 by blocking its lysosomal localization. Moreover, Sestrin2 induction is necessary for cell survival during glutamine deprivation, indicating that Sestrin2 is a critical effector of GCN2 signaling that regulates amino acid homeostasis through mTORC1 suppression.

    View details for DOI 10.1101/gad.269324.115

    View details for Web of Science ID 000365333700002

    View details for PubMedID 26543160

  • Translational Upregulation of an Individual p21(Cip1) Transcript Variant by GCN2 Regulates Cell Proliferation and Survival under Nutrient Stress PLOS GENETICS Lehman, S. L., Cerniglia, G. J., Johannes, G. J., Ye, J., Ryeom, S., Koumenis, C. 2015; 11 (6)

    Abstract

    Multiple transcripts encode for the cell cycle inhibitor p21(Cip1). These transcripts produce identical proteins but differ in their 5' untranslated regions (UTRs). Although several stresses that induce p21 have been characterized, the mechanisms regulating the individual transcript variants and their functional significance are unknown. Here we demonstrate through (35)S labeling, luciferase reporter assays, and polysome transcript profiling that activation of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) kinase GCN2 selectively upregulates the translation of a p21 transcript variant containing 5' upstream open reading frames (uORFs) through phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF2?. Mutational analysis reveals that the uORFs suppress translation under basal conditions, but promote translation under stress. Functionally, ablation of p21 ameliorates G1/S arrest and reduces cell survival in response to GCN2 activation. These findings uncover a novel mechanism of p21 post-transcriptional regulation, offer functional significance for the existence of multiple p21 transcripts, and support a key role for GCN2 in regulating the cell cycle under stress.

    View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005212

    View details for Web of Science ID 000357341600006

    View details for PubMedID 26102367

  • Serine Catabolism Regulates Mitochondrial Redox Control during Hypoxia CANCER DISCOVERY Ye, J., Fan, J., Venneti, S., Wan, Y., Pawel, B. R., Zhang, J., Finley, L. W., Lu, C., Lindsten, T., Cross, J. R., Qing, G., Liu, Z., Simon, M. C., Rabinowitz, J. D., Thompson, C. B. 2014; 4 (12): 1406-1417

    Abstract

    The de novo synthesis of the nonessential amino acid serine is often upregulated in cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that the serine catabolic enzyme, mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT2), is induced when MYC-transformed cells are subjected to hypoxia. In mitochondria, SHMT2 can initiate the degradation of serine to CO2 and NH4+, resulting in net production of NADPH from NADP+. Knockdown of SHMT2 in MYC-dependent cells reduced cellular NADPH:NADP+ ratio, increased cellular reactive oxygen species, and triggered hypoxia-induced cell death. In vivo, SHMT2 suppression led to impaired tumor growth. In MYC-amplified neuroblastoma patient samples, there was a significant correlation between SHMT2 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 ? (HIF1?), and SHMT2 expression correlated with unfavorable patient prognosis. Together, these data demonstrate that mitochondrial serine catabolism supports tumor growth by maintaining mitochondrial redox balance and cell survival.In this study, we demonstrate that the mitochondrial enzyme SHMT2 is induced upon hypoxic stress and is critical for maintaining NADPH production and redox balance to support tumor cell survival and growth.

    View details for DOI 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-14-0250

    View details for Web of Science ID 000346501900025

    View details for PubMedID 25186948

  • Quantitative flux analysis reveals folate-dependent NADPH production (vol 510, pg 298, 2014) NATURE Fan, J., Ye, J., Kamphorst, J. J., Shlomi, T., Thompson, C. B., Rabinowitz, J. D. 2014; 513 (7519): 574-574

    View details for DOI 10.1038/nature13675

    View details for Web of Science ID 000342075800046

  • Induction of sarcomas by mutant IDH2 GENES & DEVELOPMENT Lu, C., Venneti, S., Akalin, A., Fang, F., Ward, P. S., DeMatteo, R. G., Intlekofer, A. M., Chen, C., Ye, J., Hameed, M., Nafa, K., Agaram, N. P., Cross, J. R., Khanin, R., Mason, C. E., Healey, J. H., Lowe, S. W., Schwartz, G. K., Melnick, A., Thompson, C. B. 2013; 27 (18): 1986-1998

    Abstract

    More than 50% of patients with chondrosarcomas exhibit gain-of-function mutations in either isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) or IDH2. In this study, we performed genome-wide CpG methylation sequencing of chondrosarcoma biopsies and found that IDH mutations were associated with DNA hypermethylation at CpG islands but not other genomic regions. Regions of CpG island hypermethylation were enriched for genes implicated in stem cell maintenance/differentiation and lineage specification. In murine 10T1/2 mesenchymal progenitor cells, expression of mutant IDH2 led to DNA hypermethylation and an impairment in differentiation that could be reversed by treatment with DNA-hypomethylating agents. Introduction of mutant IDH2 also induced loss of contact inhibition and generated undifferentiated sarcomas in vivo. The oncogenic potential of mutant IDH2 correlated with the ability to produce 2-hydroxyglutarate. Together, these data demonstrate that neomorphic IDH2 mutations can be oncogenic in mesenchymal cells.

    View details for DOI 10.1101/gad.226753.113

    View details for Web of Science ID 000324872100004

    View details for PubMedID 24065766

  • SnapShot: Cancer Metabolism Pathways CELL METABOLISM Finley, L. W., Zhang, J., Ye, J., Ward, P. S., Thompson, C. B. 2013; 17 (3): 466-?

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.02.016

    View details for Web of Science ID 000326265400018

    View details for PubMedID 23473039

  • Pyruvate kinase M2 promotes de novo serine synthesis to sustain mTORC1 activity and cell proliferation PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ye, J., Mancuso, A., Tong, X., Ward, P. S., Fan, J., Rabinowitz, J. D., Thompson, C. B. 2012; 109 (18): 6904-6909

    Abstract

    Despite the fact that most cancer cells display high glycolytic activity, cancer cells selectively express the less active M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2). Here we demonstrate that PKM2 expression makes a critical regulatory contribution to the serine synthetic pathway. In the absence of serine, an allosteric activator of PKM2, glycolytic efflux to lactate is significantly reduced in PKM2-expressing cells. This inhibition of PKM2 results in the accumulation of glycolytic intermediates that feed into serine synthesis. As a consequence, PKM2-expressing cells can maintain mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activity and proliferate in serine-depleted medium, but PKM1-expressing cells cannot. Cellular detection of serine depletion depends on general control nonderepressible 2 kinase-activating transcription factor 4 (GCN2-ATF4) pathway activation and results in increased expression of enzymes required for serine synthesis from the accumulating glycolytic precursors. These findings suggest that tumor cells use serine-dependent regulation of PKM2 and GCN2 to modulate the flux of glycolytic intermediates in support of cell proliferation.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1204176109

    View details for Web of Science ID 000303602100035

    View details for PubMedID 22509023

  • Modulation of CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein Homologous Protein (CHOP)-dependent DR5 Expression by Nelfinavir Sensitizes Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells to Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand (TRAIL) JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY Tian, X., Ye, J., Alonso-Basanta, M., Hahn, S. M., Koumenis, C., Dorsey, J. F. 2011; 286 (33): 29408-29416

    Abstract

    Human glioblastoma multiforme cells demonstrate varying levels of sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been shown to trigger cell death through apoptosis. We therefore pursued a strategy of integrating clinically relevant investigational agents that cooperate mechanistically through the regulation of ER stress and apoptosis pathways. Nelfinavir belongs to the protease inhibitor class of drugs currently used to treat patients with HIV and is in clinical trials as an anti-tumor agent. We found that Nelfinavir treatment led to ER stress-induced up-regulation of the DR5 receptor. This transactivation was mediated by the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). We also determined that ER stress-induced ATF4 up-regulation was responsible for modulation of CHOP. In contrast, DR4 receptor expression was unchanged by Nelfinavir treatment. Combining Nelfinavir with TRAIL led to a significantly enhanced level of apoptosis that was abrogated by siRNA silencing of DR5. We provide evidence that Nelfinavir-induced ER stress modulates DR5 expression in human glioblastoma multiforme cells and can enhance TRAIL efficacy. These studies provide a potential mechanistic rationale for the use of the Food and Drug Administration-approved agent Nelfinavir in combination with DR5 agonists to induce apoptosis in human malignancies.

    View details for DOI 10.1074/jbc.M110.197665

    View details for Web of Science ID 000293837000075

    View details for PubMedID 21697087

  • PERK promotes cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth by limiting oxidative DNA damage ONCOGENE Bobrovnikova-Marjon, E., Grigoriadou, C., Pytel, D., Zhang, F., Ye, J., Koumenis, C., Cavener, D., Diehl, J. A. 2010; 29 (27): 3881-3895

    Abstract

    To proliferate and expand in an environment with limited nutrients, cancer cells co-opt cellular regulatory pathways that facilitate adaptation and thereby maintain tumor growth and survival potential. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is uniquely positioned to sense nutrient deprivation stress and subsequently engage signaling pathways that promote adaptive strategies. As such, components of the ER stress-signaling pathway represent potential antineoplastic targets. However, recent investigations into the role of the ER resident protein kinase, RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) have paradoxically suggested both pro- and anti-tumorigenic properties. We have used animal models of mammary carcinoma to interrogate the contribution of PERK in the neoplastic process. The ablation of PERK in tumor cells resulted in impaired regeneration of intracellular antioxidants and accumulation of reactive oxygen species triggering oxidative DNA damage. Ultimately, PERK deficiency impeded progression through the cell cycle because of the activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. Our data reveal that PERK-dependent signaling is used during both tumor initiation and expansion to maintain redox homeostasis, thereby facilitating tumor growth.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/onc.2010.153

    View details for Web of Science ID 000279603200002

    View details for PubMedID 20453876

  • The GCN2-ATF4 pathway is critical for tumour cell survival and proliferation in response to nutrient deprivation EMBO JOURNAL Ye, J., Kumanova, M., Hart, L. S., Sloane, K., Zhang, H., De Panis, D. N., Bobrovnikova-Marjon, E., Diehl, J. A., Ron, D., Koumenis, C. 2010; 29 (12): 2082-2096

    Abstract

    The transcription factor ATF4 regulates the expression of genes involved in amino acid metabolism, redox homeostasis and ER stress responses, and it is overexpressed in human solid tumours, suggesting that it has an important function in tumour progression. Here, we report that inhibition of ATF4 expression blocked proliferation and survival of transformed cells, despite an initial activation of cytoprotective macroautophagy. Knockdown of ATF4 significantly reduced the levels of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and overexpression of ASNS or supplementation of asparagine in trans, reversed the proliferation block and increased survival in ATF4 knockdown cells. Both amino acid and glucose deprivation, stresses found in solid tumours, activated the upstream eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha) kinase GCN2 to upregulate ATF4 target genes involved in amino acid synthesis and transport. GCN2 activation/overexpression and increased phospho-eIF2alpha were observed in human and mouse tumours compared with normal tissues and abrogation of ATF4 or GCN2 expression significantly inhibited tumour growth in vivo. We conclude that the GCN2-eIF2alpha-ATF4 pathway is critical for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in tumour cells, making it a novel and attractive target for anti-tumour approaches.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/emboj.2010.81

    View details for Web of Science ID 000278832100014

    View details for PubMedID 20473272

  • ATF4, an ER Stress and Hypoxia-Inducible Transcription Factor and its Potential Role in Hypoxia Tolerance and Tumorigenesis CURRENT MOLECULAR MEDICINE Ye, J., Koumenis, C. 2009; 9 (4): 411-416

    Abstract

    Hypoxia/anoxia promotes tumor aggressiveness and negatively impacts tumor response to therapy. Coordinate regulation of HIF-dependent and HIF-independent pathways has been shown to contribute to cellular adaptation to hypoxic stress, and to couple macromolecular synthesis rates to reduced energy availability. An important component of this type of adaptation is the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum kinase PERK by acute or prolonged hypoxia. Activated PERK subsequently induces phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2alpha and translational upregulation of the transcription factor ATF4. ATF4 is a basic leucine-zipper (bZip) transcription factor, which regulates amino acid metabolism, cellular redox state, and anti-stress responses. ATF4 expression can be regulated at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. The functional activation of ATF4 under hypoxia and the overexpression of ATF4 in hypoxic areas of clinical samples of human tumors suggest that ATF4 plays a role in tumor hypoxic adaptation. Here we summarize recent findings regarding the regulation of ATF4 in transformed cells, clinical tumor samples and tumor models, and speculate on its potential role in tumor progression and chemoresistance.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000265697200003

    View details for PubMedID 19519398

  • Preferential Cytotoxicity of Bortezomib toward Hypoxic Tumor Cells via Overactivation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathways CANCER RESEARCH Fels, D. R., Ye, J., Segan, A. T., Kridel, S. J., Spiotto, M., Olson, M., Koong, A. C., Koumenis, C. 2008; 68 (22): 9323-9330

    Abstract

    Hypoxia is a dynamic feature of the tumor microenvironment that contributes to drug resistance and cancer progression. We previously showed that components of the unfolded protein response (UPR), elicited by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, are also activated by hypoxia in vitro and in vivo animal and human patient tumors. Here, we report that ER stressors, such as thapsigargin or the clinically used proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, exhibit significantly higher cytotoxicity toward hypoxic compared with normoxic tumor cells, which is accompanied by enhanced activation of UPR effectors in vitro and UPR reporter activity in vivo. Treatment of cells with the translation inhibitor cycloheximide, which relieves ER load, ameliorated this enhanced cytotoxicity, indicating that the increased cytotoxicity is ER stress-dependent. The mode of cell death was cell type-dependent, because DLD1 colorectal carcinoma cells exhibited enhanced apoptosis, whereas HeLa cervical carcinoma cells activated autophagy, blocked apoptosis, and eventually led to necrosis. Pharmacologic or genetic ablation of autophagy increased the levels of apoptosis. These results show that hypoxic tumor cells, which are generally more resistant to genotoxic agents, are hypersensitive to proteasome inhibitors and suggest that combining bortezomib with therapies that target the normoxic fraction of human tumors can lead to more effective tumor control.

    View details for DOI 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-2873

    View details for Web of Science ID 000261136600029

    View details for PubMedID 19010906

  • Hypoxia and the unfolded protein response OXYGEN BIOLOGY AND HYPOXIA Koumenis, C., Bi, M., Ye, J., Feldman, D., Koong, A. C. 2007; 435: 275-?

    Abstract

    Tumor hypoxia refers to the development of regions within solid tumors in which the oxygen concentration is lower (0-3%) compared to that in most normal tissues (4-9%) (Vaupel and Hockel, 2000). Considerable experimental and clinical evidence exists supporting the notion that hypoxia fundamentally alters the physiology of the tumor towards a more aggressive phenotype (Hockel and Vaupel, 2001). Therefore, delineating the mechanisms by which hypoxia affects tumor physiology at the cellular and molecular levels will be crucial for a better understanding of tumor development and metastasis and for designing better antitumor modalities.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/S0076-6879(07)35014-3

    View details for Web of Science ID 000251162300014

    View details for PubMedID 17998059

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