Transketolase-like protein 1 (TKTL1) is required for rapid cell growth and full viability of human tumor cells

The crystal structure of human transketolase and new insights into its mode of action

The crystal structure of human transketolase (TKT), a thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) and Ca(2+)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the interketol transfer between ketoses and aldoses as part of the pentose phosphate pathway, has been determined to 1.75 Å resolution. The recombinantly produced protein crystallized in space group C2 containing one monomer in the asymmetric unit. Two monomers form the homodimeric biological assembly with two identical active sites at the dimer interface. Although the protomer exhibits the typical three (α/β)-domain structure and topology reported for TKTs from other species, structural differences are observed for several loop regions and the linker that connects the PP and Pyr domain. The cofactor and substrate binding sites of human TKT bear high resemblance to those of other TKTs but also feature unique properties, including two lysines and a serine that interact with the β-phosphate of ThDP. Furthermore, Gln(189) spans over the thiazolium moiety of ThDP and replaces an isoleucine found in most non-mammalian TKTs. The side chain of Gln(428) forms a hydrogen bond with the 4'-amino group of ThDP and replaces a histidine that is invariant in all non-mammalian TKTs. All other amino acids involved in substrate binding and catalysis are strictly conserved. Besides a steady-state kinetic analysis, microscopic equilibria of the donor half-reaction were characterized by an NMR-based intermediate analysis. These studies reveal that formation of the central 1,2-dihydroxyethyl-ThDP carbanion-enamine intermediate is thermodynamically favored with increasing carbon chain length of the donor ketose substrate. Based on the structure of human transketolase and sequence alignments, putative functional properties of the related transketolase-like proteins TKTL1 and -2 are discussed in light of recent findings suggesting that TKTL1 plays a role in cancerogenesis.

Transketolase-like protein 1 confers resistance to serum withdrawal in vitro

Transketolase-like protein 1 (TKTL1) is a member of the family of transketolase enzymes of which the founder member transketolase (TKT) is known to play a central role in the non-oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway. According to several publications TKTL1 is the only family member, whose expression is substantially de-regulated in a variety of solid tumours. Over-expression of TKTL1 correlates with poor prognosis of cancer patients and TKTL1 itself represents a potential therapeutic target owing to its possible involvement in the regulation of the proliferation and metabolism of cancer cells. We show that exogenously expressed TKTL1 provides HEK293 cells with moderate growth advantages under standard culture conditions, while protecting cells from growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis. Importantly, we identified TKTL1 with the JFC12T10 antibody as a 65kDa protein, which was however absent in most tumour cell lines tested. Primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of various localisations were characterised by a focal pattern with single cells strongly expressing TKTL1, rather than by a homogeneous expression pattern within the tumour mass.

Clinical significance of TKTL1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the expression of transketolase like-1 (TKTL1) protein and mRNA and to analyze its clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS: The expression of TKTL1 protein and mRNA was detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in 62 ESCC specimens, 31 tumor-adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelial specimens, and 62 normal esophageal mucosal specimens, respectively.

RESULTS: The positive rates of TKTL1 protein expression in normal esophageal epithelium, tumor-adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelium and ESCC were 17.7% (11/62), 29.0% (9/31) and 53.2% (33/62), respectively, with significant differences among the three groups (all P < 0.05). TKTL1 protein expression was closely correlated with infiltrative depth, lymphatic metastasis and TNM grade in ESCC (all P < 0.05). The positive rates of TKTL1 mRNA expression in normal esophageal epithelium, tumor-adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelium and ESCC were 4.8% (3/62), 22.6% (7/31) and 43.5% (27/62), respectively, with significant difference among the three groups (all P < 0.05). TKTL1 mRNA expression was closely associated with infiltrative depth, lymphatic metastasis and TNM grade in ESCC (all P < 0.05). There is a positive correlation between TKTL1 mRNA and protein expression (γ_p = 0.302, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: TKTL1 expression may be associated with the development, invasion and metastasis of ESSC.

Targeting metabolic transformation for cancer therapy

Cancer therapy has long relied on the rapid proliferation of tumour cells for effective treatment. However, the lack of specificity in this approach often leads to undesirable side effects. Many reports have described various 'metabolic transformation' events that enable cancer cells to survive, suggesting that metabolic pathways might be good targets. There are currently several drugs under development or in clinical trials that are based on specifically targeting the altered metabolic pathways of tumours. This Review highlights pathways against which there are already drugs in different stages of development and also discusses additional druggable targets.

Metabolic genes in cancer: their roles in tumor progression and clinical implications

Re-programming of metabolic pathways is a hallmark of physiological changes in cancer cells. The expression of certain genes that directly control the rate of key metabolic pathways including glycolysis, lipogenesis and nucleotide synthesis are drastically altered at different stages of tumor progression. These alterations are generally considered as an adaptation of tumor cells; however, they also contribute to the progression of tumor cells to become more aggressive phenotypes. This review summarizes the recent information about the mechanistic link of these genes to oncogenesis and their potential utility as diagnostic markers as well as for therapeutic targets. We particularly focus on three groups of genes; GLUT1, G6PD, TKTL1 and PGI/AMF in glycolytic pathway, ACLY, ACC1 and FAS in lipogenesis and RRM2, p53R2 and TYMS for nucleotide synthesis. All these genes are highly up-regulated in a variety of tumor cells in cancer patients, and they play active roles in tumor progression rather than expressing merely as a consequence of phenotypic change of the cancer cells. Molecular dissection of their orchestrated networks and understanding the exact mechanism of their expression will provide a window of opportunity to target these genes for specific cancer therapy. We also reviewed existing database of gene microarray to validate the utility of these genes for cancer diagnosis.

TKTL1 is activated by promoter hypomethylation and contributes to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma carcinogenesis through increased aerobic glycolysis and HIF1alpha stabilization

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the role of the aberrant expression of Transkelolase-like 1 (TKTL1) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumorigenesis and to characterize TKTL1 contribution to HNSCC tumorigenesis through aerobic glycolysis and HIF1alpha stabilization.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

TKTL1 promoter hypomethylation and mRNA/protein aberrant expression were studied in human HNSCC tumor samples and normal mucosas. Oncogenic functions of TKTL1 were examined in HNSCC cell line panels and tumor xenograft models with TKTL1 expression construct. The metabolite levels of fructose-6-phosphate, glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate, pyruvate, lactate, and the levels of HIF1alpha protein and its downsteam glycolytic targets were compared between the TKTL1-expressing and vehicle-expressing HNSCC cells. Meanwhile, the effects of HIF1alpha/glycolytic inhibitors were evaluated on the TKTL1 transfectants.

RESULTS

TKTL1 exhibits high frequency of promoter hypomethylation in HNSCC tumors compared with the normal mucosas, correlating with its overexpression in HNSCC. Overexpression of TKTL1 in HNSCC cells promoted cellular proliferation and enhanced tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of TKTL1 increased the production of fructose-6-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, in turn elevating the production of pyruvate and lactate, resulting in the normoxic stabilization of the malignancy-promoting transcription factor HIF1alpha and the upregulation of downstream glycolytic enzymes. Notably, the reduction of TKTL1 expression decreased HIF1alpha accumulation and inhibition with HIF1alpha and/or the glycolysis inhibitor could abrogate the growth effects mediated by TKTL1 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

TKTL1 is a novel candidate oncogene that is epigenetically activated by aberrant hypomethlation and contributes to a malignant phenotype through altered glycolytic metabolism and HIF1alpha accumulation.