1
|
Yang Z, Su W, Wei X, Pan Y, Xing M, Niu L, Feng B, Kong W, Ren X, Huang F, Zhou J, Zhao W, Qiu Y, Liao T, Chen Q, Qu S, Wang Y, Guan Q, Li D, Zen K, Chen Y, Qin C, Wang Y, Zhou X, Xiang J, Yao B. Hypoxia inducible factor-1α drives cancer resistance to cuproptosis. Cancer Cell 2025; 43:937-954.e9. [PMID: 40054467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 12/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2025] [Indexed: 03/20/2025]
Abstract
Cuproptosis represents a new type of cell death that intricately associated with copper homeostasis and protein lipoylation. The cuproptosis suppression has been characterized in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we reveal that hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a driver of cuproptosis resistance in solid tumor. We found that HIF-1α activates pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 and 3 (PDK1/3), resulting in decreased expression of dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT) (target of copper), and promotes the accumulation of metallothionein, which sequesters mitochondrial copper, leading to resistance to cuproptosis under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, we discovered that high levels of copper reduce ubiquitination and increase the stability of HIF-1α protein without affecting its mRNA levels. Inhibition of HIF-1α increases the susceptibility of cancer to cuproptosis in vivo. This study unveils the multifaceted role of HIF-1α in cuproptosis and demonstrates the molecular mechanism of hypoxia-promoted carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiyi Wei
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yitong Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mengying Xing
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lili Niu
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baijie Feng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiyu Kong
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaohan Ren
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Huang
- National Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Science, Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingwan Zhou
- National Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Science, Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, School of Clinical Medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yingyi Qiu
- National Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Science, Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tian Liao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuang Qu
- Geriatric Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunjun Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Guan
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Duanshu Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Zen
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Research Center of Surgery, Nanjing BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Chao Qin
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Xiang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bing Yao
- National Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Science, Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Biomarkers for Cancer Precision Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Antibody Drug, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Grover K, Koblova A, Pezacki AT, Chang CJ, New EJ. Small-Molecule Fluorescent Probes for Binding- and Activity-Based Sensing of Redox-Active Biological Metals. Chem Rev 2024; 124:5846-5929. [PMID: 38657175 PMCID: PMC11485196 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Although transition metals constitute less than 0.1% of the total mass within a human body, they have a substantial impact on fundamental biological processes across all kingdoms of life. Indeed, these nutrients play crucial roles in the physiological functions of enzymes, with the redox properties of many of these metals being essential to their activity. At the same time, imbalances in transition metal pools can be detrimental to health. Modern analytical techniques are helping to illuminate the workings of metal homeostasis at a molecular and atomic level, their spatial localization in real time, and the implications of metal dysregulation in disease pathogenesis. Fluorescence microscopy has proven to be one of the most promising non-invasive methods for studying metal pools in biological samples. The accuracy and sensitivity of bioimaging experiments are predominantly determined by the fluorescent metal-responsive sensor, highlighting the importance of rational probe design for such measurements. This review covers activity- and binding-based fluorescent metal sensors that have been applied to cellular studies. We focus on the essential redox-active metals: iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, chromium, and nickel. We aim to encourage further targeted efforts in developing innovative approaches to understanding the biological chemistry of redox-active metals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karandeep Grover
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Alla Koblova
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Aidan T. Pezacki
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley 94720, CA, USA
| | - Christopher J. Chang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley 94720, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley 94720, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. New
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kim JE, Jeon S, Lindahl PA. Discovery of an unusual copper homeostatic mechanism in yeast cells respiring on minimal medium and an unexpectedly diverse labile copper pool. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105435. [PMID: 37944620 PMCID: PMC10704325 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper is essential for all eukaryotic cells but many details of how it is trafficked within the cell and how it is homeostatically regulated remain uncertain. Here, we characterized the copper content of cytosol and mitochondria using liquid chromatography with ICP-MS detection. Chromatograms of cytosol exhibited over two dozen peaks due to copper proteins and coordination complexes. Yeast cells respiring on minimal media did not regulate copper import as media copper concentration increased; rather, they imported copper at increasing rates while simultaneously increasing the expression of metallothionein CUP1 which then sequestered most of the excessive imported copper. Peak intensities due to superoxide dismutase SOD1, other copper proteins, and numerous coordination complexes also increased, but not as drastically. The labile copper pool was unexpectedly diverse and divided into two groups. One group approximately comigrated with copper-glutathione, -cysteine, and -histidine standards; the other developed only at high media copper concentrations and at greater elution volumes. Most cytosolic copper arose from copper-bound proteins, especially CUP1. Cytosol contained an unexpectedly high percentage of apo-copper proteins and apo-coordination complexes. Copper-bound forms of non-CUP1 proteins and complexes coexisted with apo-CUP1 and with the chelator BCS. Both experiments suggest unexpectedly stable-binding copper proteins and coordination complexes in cytosol. COX17Δ cytosol chromatograms were like those of WT cells. Chromatograms of soluble mitochondrial extracts were obtained, and mitoplasting helped distinguish copper species in the intermembrane space versus in the matrix/inner membrane. Issues involving the yeast copperome, copper homeostasis, labile copper pool, and copper trafficking are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Seoyoung Jeon
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Paul A Lindahl
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
| |
Collapse
|