The breast cancer oncogene IKKε coordinates mitochondrial function and serine metabolism

Xu, R. et al. (2020) The breast cancer oncogene IKKε coordinates mitochondrial function and serine metabolism. EMBO Reports, 21(9), e48260. (doi: 10.15252/embr.201948260) (PMID:32783398) (PMCID:PMC7116048)

Abstract

IκB kinase ε (IKKε) is a key molecule at the crossroads of inflammation and cancer. Known to regulate cytokine secretion via NFκB and IRF3, the kinase is also a breast cancer oncogene, overexpressed in a variety of tumours. However, to what extent IKKε remodels cellular metabolism is currently unknown. Here, we used metabolic tracer analysis to show that IKKε orchestrates a complex metabolic reprogramming that affects mitochondrial metabolism and consequently serine biosynthesis independently of its canonical signalling role. We found that IKKε upregulates the serine biosynthesis pathway (SBP) indirectly, by limiting glucose-derived pyruvate utilisation in the TCA cycle, inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of mitochondrial function induces activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), which in turn drives upregulation of the expression of SBP genes. Importantly, pharmacological reversal of the IKKε-induced metabolic phenotype reduces proliferation of breast cancer cells. Finally, we show that in a highly proliferative set of ER negative, basal breast tumours, IKKε and PSAT1 are both overexpressed, corroborating the link between IKKε and the SBP in the clinical context.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bryson, Dr Kevin
• Authors: Xu, R., Jones, W., Wilcz-Villega, E., Costa, A.S.H., Rajeeve, V., Bentham, R.B., Bryson, K., Nagano, A., Yaman, B., Olendo Barasa, S., Wang, Y., Chelala, C., Cutillas, P., Szabadkai, G., Frezza, C., and Bianchi, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• Journal Name: EMBO Reports
• Publisher: EMBO Press
• ISSN: 1469-221X
• ISSN (Online): 1469-3178
• Published Online: 11 August 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in EMBO Reports 21(9):e48260
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license