ANKRD22, a novel tumor microenvironment-induced mitochondrial protein promotes metabolic reprogramming of colorectal cancer cells
THERANOSTICS
Authors: Pan, Tianhui; Liu, Jingwen; Xu, Song; Yu, Qiao; Wang, Hongping; Sun, Hongxiang; Wu, Jia; Zhu, Yue; Zhou, Jianwei; Zhu, Yongliang
Abstract
Background: The leading cause of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) is the presence of colorectal cancer-initiating cells (CCICs). The interplay between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and CRC cells induces reacquisition of initiating cell characteristics, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: Candidate molecules were screened by global differential cDNA expression profiles of CCICs, which were enriched from patient-derived tumor xenograft models. Luciferase reporters and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to explore the mechanism of TME factors regulating the transcription of ANKRD22. The effects of Ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 22 (ANKRD22) on energy metabolism were monitored by extracellular flux and C-13-based metabolic flux analysis. Mass spectrometry was used to identify the interacting partners of ANKRD22. Morphological changes of CCICs overexpressing ANKRD22 were observed by electron microscopy. The effects of ANKRD22 on mitochondrial lipid metabolism were analyzed by lipidomics. Results: We identified a novel nucleus-encoded mitochondrial membrane protein, ANKRD22, which was upregulated in CCICs. We found that ANKRD22 was induced by the p38/MAX pathway activated by different TME stimuli. As a key transcription factor, MAX promoted the transcription of ANKRD22. Expression of ANKRD22 promoted glycolysis associated with a decrease in ATP/ADP and an increase in AMP/ATP levels, which were related to its interaction with pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoform 1 (PDK1) and multiple subunits of ATP synthase. Further, in CCICs, ANKRD22 cooperated with the lipid transport protein, Extended Synaptotagmin-1 (E-Syt1), to transport excess lipids into mitochondria and reduced the number of mitochondria in an autophagy-independent manner, thus meeting the metabolic requirements of CCICs. Conclusion: ANKRD22 induced by TME promotes the metabolic reprogramming of CRC cells. Our study has identified ANKRD22/E-Syt1 as a potential target for eradicating CCICs.
Ca(v)2.1 (P/Q channel) interaction with synaptic proteins is essential for depolarization-evoked release
CHANNELS
Authors: Cohen-Kutner, Moshe; Nachmanni, Daphna; Atlas, Daphne
Abstract
It is well-established that syntaxin 1A (Sx1A), SNAP-25 and synaptotagmin (Syt1) either alone or in combination, modify the kinetic properties of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs). The interaction interface resides mainly at the cytosolic II-III domain of the alpha1 subunit of the channels, while Sx1A interacts with the channel also via two highly conserved cysteine residues at the transmembrane domain. In the present study, we characterized Ca2+-independent coupling of the human neuronal P/Q-type calcium channel (Ca(v)2.1) with Sx1A, SNAP-25, Syt1 and synaptobrevin (VAMP) in BAPTA-injected Xenopus oocytes. The co-expression of Ca(v)2.1 with Sx1A, SNAP-25 and Syt1, produced a multiprotein complex with distinctive kinetic properties analogous to the excitosome complexes generated by Ca(v)1.2, Ca(v)2.2 and Ca(v)2.3. The distinct kinetic properties of Ca(v)2.1 acquired by close association with Syt1 and t-SNAREs, suggests that the vesicle is tethered to the neuronal channel and to the exocytotic machinery independently of intracellular Ca2+. To explore the relevance of these interactions to secretion we exploited a BotC1-and a BotA-sensitive secretion system developed for Xenopus oocytes not buffered by BAPTA, in which depolarization-evoked secretion is monitored by a change in membrane capacitance. The reconstituted release mediated by Ca(v)2.1 is consistent with the model in which the VGCC plays a signaling role in triggering release, acting from within the exocytotic complex. The relevance of these results to secretion posits the role of possible rearrangements within the excitosome subsequent to Ca2+ entry, setting the stage for the fusion of channel-tethered-vesicles upon the arrival of an action potential.