Abstract
Gain-of-function mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) occur in multiple types of human cancer. Here, we show that these mutations significantly disrupt NADPH homeostasis by consuming NADPH for 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) synthesis. Cells respond to 2-HG synthesis, but not exogenous administration of 2-HG, by increasing pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux. We show that 2-HG production competes with reductive biosynthesis and the buffering of oxidative stress, processes that also require NADPH. IDH1 mutants have a decreased capacity to synthesize palmitate and an increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate that, even when NADPH is limiting, IDH1 mutants continue to synthesize 2-HG at the expense of other NADPH-requiring pathways that are essential for cell viability. Thus, rather than attempting to decrease 2-HG synthesis in the clinic, the consumption of NADPH by mutant IDH1 may be exploited as a metabolic weakness that sensitizes tumor cells to ionizing radiation, a commonly used anti-cancer therapy. Using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and stable isotope tracing, Gelman et al. find that 2-HG production in cells with IDH1 mutations leads to increased pentose phosphate pathway activity to generate NADPH. Production of 2-HG competes with other NADPH-dependent pathways and sensitizes cells to redox stress.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 512-522 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Cell Reports |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- 2-hydroxyglutarate
- LC/MS
- cancer metabolism
- metabolomcis
- pentose phosphate pathway
- redox regulation