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Varlı M, Kim SJ, Noh MG, Kim YG, Ha HH, Kim KK, Kim H. KITENIN promotes aerobic glycolysis through PKM2 induction by upregulating the c-Myc/hnRNPs axis in colorectal cancer. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:146. [PMID: 37553596 PMCID: PMC10410973 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01089-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The oncoprotein KAI1 C-terminal interacting tetraspanin (KITENIN; vang-like 1) promotes cell metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis, resulting in shorter survival times in cancer patients. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of KITENIN on the energy metabolism of human colorectal cancer cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The effects of KITENIN on energy metabolism were evaluated using in vitro assays. The GEPIA web tool was used to extrapolate the clinical relevance of KITENIN in cancer cell metabolism. The bioavailability and effect of the disintegrator of KITENIN complex compounds were evaluated by LC-MS, in vivo animal assay. RESULTS KITENIN markedly upregulated the glycolytic proton efflux rate and aerobic glycolysis by increasing the expression of GLUT1, HK2, PKM2, and LDHA. β-catenin, CD44, CyclinD1 and HIF-1A, including c-Myc, were upregulated by KITENIN expression. In addition, KITENIN promoted nuclear PKM2 and PKM2-induced transactivation, which in turn, increased the expression of downstream mediators. This was found to be mediated through an effect of c-Myc on the transcription of hnRNP isoforms and a switch to the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase, which increased aerobic glycolysis. The disintegration of KITENIN complex by silencing the KITENIN or MYO1D downregulated aerobic glycolysis. The disintegrator of KITENIN complex compound DKC1125 and its optimized form, DKC-C14S, exhibited the inhibition activity of KITENIN-mediated aerobic glycolysis in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS The oncoprotein KITENIN induces PKM2-mediated aerobic glycolysis by upregulating the c-Myc/hnRNPs axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mücahit Varlı
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Sunchon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Jin Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Sunchon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160 Baekseoro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Giun Noh
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160 Baekseoro, Dong-gu, Gwanju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Gyoon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, 119 Dandaero, Dongnam-gu, 31116, Cheonan-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Ho Ha
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Sunchon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Keun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160 Baekseoro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Hangun Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Sunchon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea.
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Kim SJ, Sun EG, Bae JA, Park S, Hong CS, Park ZY, Kim H, Kim KK. A peptide interfering with the dimerization of oncogenic KITENIN protein and its stability suppresses colorectal tumour progression. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e871. [PMID: 35853101 PMCID: PMC9296036 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The stability of a protein, as well as its function and versatility, can be enhanced through oligomerization. KITENIN (KAI1 C‐terminal interacting tetraspanin) is known to promote the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). How KITENIN maintains its structural integrity and stability are largely unknown, however. Here we investigated the mechanisms regulating the stability of KITENIN with the aim of developing therapeutics blocking its oncogenic functions. We found that KITENIN formed a homo‐oligomeric complex and that the intracellular C‐terminal domain (KITENIN‐CTD) was needed for this oligomerization. Expression of the KITENIN‐CTD alone interfered with the formation of the KITENIN homodimer, and the amino acid sequence from 463 to 471 within the KITENIN‐CTD was the most effective. This sequence coupled with a cell‐penetrating peptide was named a KITENIN dimerization‐interfering peptide (KDIP). We next studied the mechanisms by which KDIP affected the stability of KITENIN. The KITENIN‐interacting protein myosin‐X (Myo10), which has oncogenic activity in several cancers, functioned as an effector to stabilize the KITENIN homodimer in the cis formation. Treatment with KDIP resulted in the disintegration of the homodimer via downregulation of Myo10, which led to increased binding of RACK1 to the exposed RACK1‐interacting motif (463–471 aa), and subsequent autophagy‐dependent degradation of KITENIN and reduced CRC cell invasion. Intravenous injection of KDIP significantly reduced the tumour burden in a syngeneic mouse tumour model and colorectal liver metastasis in an intrasplenic hepatic metastasis model. Collectively, our present results provide a new cancer therapeutic peptide for blocking colorectal liver metastasis, which acts by inducing the downregulation of Myo10 and specifically targeting the stability of the oncogenic KITENIN protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Jin Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.,College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Gene Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong A Bae
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehoon Park
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Soo Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Zee-Yong Park
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hangun Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Keun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Bae JA, Bae WK, Kim SJ, Ko YS, Kim KY, Park SY, Yu YH, Kim EA, Chung IJ, Kim H, Ha HH, Kim KK. A new KSRP-binding compound suppresses distant metastasis of colorectal cancer by targeting the oncogenic KITENIN complex. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:78. [PMID: 34039363 PMCID: PMC8152081 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01368-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Distant metastasis is the major cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Previously, we identified KITENIN as a metastasis-enhancing gene and suggested that the oncogenic KITENIN complex is involved in metastatic dissemination of KITENIN-overexpressing CRC cells. Here, we attempted to find substances targeting the KITENIN complex and test their ability to suppress distant metastasis of CRC. Methods We screened a small-molecule compound library to find candidate substances suppressing the KITENIN complex in CRC cells. We selected a candidate compound and examined its effects on the KITENIN complex and distant metastasis through in vitro assays, a molecular docking model, and in vivo tumor models. Results Among several compounds, we identified DKC1125 (Disintegrator of KITENIN Complex #1125) as the best candidate. DKC1125 specifically suppressed KITENIN gain of function. After binding KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP), DKC1125 degraded KITENIN and Dvl2 by recruiting RACK1 and miRNA-124, leading to the disintegration of the functional KITENIN–KSRP–RACK1–Dvl2 complex. A computer docking model suggested that DKC1125 specifically interacted with the binding pocket of the fourth KH-domain of KSRP. KITENIN-overexpressing CRC cells deregulated certain microRNAs and were resistant to 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab. DKC1125 restored sensitivity to these drugs by normalizing expression of the deregulated microRNAs, including miRNA-124. DKC1125 effectively suppressed colorectal liver metastasis in a mouse model. Interestingly, the combination of DKC1125 with 5-fluorouracil suppressed metastasis more effectively than either drug alone. Conclusion DKC1125 targets the KITENIN complex and could therefore be used as a novel therapeutic to suppress liver metastasis in CRC expressing high levels of KITENIN. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-021-01368-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong A Bae
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea
| | - Woo Kyun Bae
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea.,Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea
| | - Sung Jin Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea
| | - Yoo-Seung Ko
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea
| | - Keon Young Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea
| | - So-Yeon Park
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jungangro 225, Sunchon, 57922, South Korea
| | - Young Hyun Yu
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jungangro 225, Sunchon, 57922, South Korea
| | - Eun Ae Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Ik Joo Chung
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea.,Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea
| | - Hangun Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jungangro 225, Sunchon, 57922, South Korea.
| | - Hyung-Ho Ha
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jungangro 225, Sunchon, 57922, South Korea.
| | - Kyung Keun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Baekseoro 160, Dong-Ku, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea.
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