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Ma H, Chen X, Mo S, Zhang Y, Mao X, Chen J, Liu Y, Tong WM, Lu Z, Yu S, Chen J. Targeting N-glycosylation of 4F2hc mediated by glycosyltransferase B3GNT3 sensitizes ferroptosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:1988-2004. [PMID: 37479744 PMCID: PMC10406883 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01188-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a highly fatal malignancy partially due to the acquired alterations related to aberrant protein glycosylation that pathologically remodel molecular biological processes and protect PDAC cells from death. Ferroptosis driven by lethal lipid peroxidation provides a targetable vulnerability for PDAC. However, the crosstalk between glycosylation and ferroptosis remains unclear. Here, we identified 4F2hc, a subunit of the glutamate-cystine antiporter system Xc-, and its asparagine (N)-glycosylation is involved in PDAC ferroptosis by N- and O-linked glycoproteomics. Knockdown of SLC3A2 (gene name of 4F2hc) or blocking the N-glycosylation of 4F2hc potentiates ferroptosis sensitization of PDAC cells by impairing the activity of system Xc- manifested by a marked decrease in intracellular glutathione. Mechanistically, we found that the glycosyltransferase B3GNT3 catalyzes the glycosylation of 4F2hc, stabilizes the 4F2hc protein, and enhances the interaction between 4F2hc and xCT. Knockout of B3GNT3 or deletion of enzymatically active B3GNT3 sensitizes PDAC cells to ferroptosis. Reconstitution of 4F2hc-deficient cells with wildtype 4F2hc restores ferroptosis resistance while glycosylation-mutated 4F2hc does not. Additionally, upon combination with a ferroptosis inducer, treatment with the classical N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin (TM) markedly triggers the overactivation of lipid peroxidation and enhances the sensitivity of PDAC cells to ferroptosis. Notably, we confirmed that genetic perturbation of SLC3A2 or combination treatment with TM significantly augments ferroptosis-induced inhibition of orthotopic PDAC. Clinically, high expression of 4F2hc and B3GNT3 contributes to the progression and poor survival of PDAC patients. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unappreciated function of N-glycosylation of 4F2hc in ferroptosis and suggest that dual targeting the vulnerabilities of N-glycosylation and ferroptosis may be an innovative therapeutic strategy for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Ma
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xianlong Chen
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Shengwei Mo
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xinxin Mao
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jingci Chen
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yilin Liu
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wei-Min Tong
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zhaohui Lu
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Shuangni Yu
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, China.
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