Publications by authors named "Julie St-Pierre"

85 Publications

Perturbations of cancer cell metabolism by the antidiabetic drug canagliflozin.

Authors:
David Papadopoli Oro Uchenunu Ranveer Palia Nabila Chekkal Laura Hulea Ivan Topisirovic Michael Pollak Julie St-Pierre

Neoplasia 2021 Apr 27;23(4):391-399. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address:

Notwithstanding that high rates of glucose uptake and glycolysis are common in neoplasia, pharmacological efforts to inhibit glucose utilization for cancer treatment have not been successful. Recent evidence suggests that in addition to classical glucose transporters, sodium-glucose transporters (SGLTs) are expressed by cancers. We therefore investigated the possibility that SGLT inhibitors, which are used in treatment of type 2 diabetes, may exert antineoplastic activity by limiting glucose uptake. We show that the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells. Surprisingly, the antiproliferative effects of canagliflozin are not affected by glucose availability nor by the level of expression of SGLT2. Canagliflozin reduces oxygen consumption and glutamine metabolism through the citric acid cycle. The antiproliferative effects of canagliflozin are linked to inhibition of glutamine metabolism that fuels respiration, which represents a previously unanticipated mechanism of its potential antineoplastic action.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neo.2021.02.003DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8027095PMC
April 2021

Food for Growth: Distinct Nutrient Preferences between Primary Tumors and Metastases.

Authors:
Yannick Audet-Delage Julie St-Pierre

Mol Cell 2021 01;81(2):220-222

Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology and Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada. Electronic address:

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Rinaldi et al. (2021) reveal how nutrient availability in the metastatic niche of breast cancer cells shapes their growth signaling, highlighting potential avenues for therapeutic interventions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.044DOI Listing
January 2021

Altered mitochondrial fusion drives defensive glutathione synthesis in cells able to switch to glycolytic ATP production.

Authors:
David A Patten Shawn McGuirk Ujval Anilkumar Ghadi Antoun Karan Gandhi Gaganvir Parmar Mohamed Ariff Iqbal Jacob Wong Richard B Richardson Julie St-Pierre Ruth S Slack Mary-Ellen Harper

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2021 01 11;1868(1):118854. Epub 2020 Sep 11.

University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa K1H 8M5, Canada. Electronic address:

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles. Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics are causal or are linked to numerous neurodegenerative, neuromuscular, and metabolic diseases. It is generally thought that cells with altered mitochondrial structure are prone to mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species generation and widespread oxidative damage. The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and the master cellular antioxidant, glutathione (GSH). We reveal that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking the mitochondrial fusion machinery display elevated levels of GSH, which limits oxidative damage. Moreover, targeted metabolomics and C isotopic labeling experiments demonstrate that cells lacking the inner membrane fusion GTPase OPA1 undergo widespread metabolic remodeling altering the balance of citric acid cycle intermediates and ultimately favoring GSH synthesis. Interestingly, the GSH precursor and antioxidant n-acetylcysteine did not increase GSH levels in OPA1 KO cells, suggesting that cysteine is not limiting for GSH production in this context. Post-mitotic neurons were unable to increase GSH production in the absence of OPA1. Finally, the ability to use glycolysis for ATP production was a requirement for GSH accumulation following OPA1 deletion. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel role for mitochondrial fusion in the regulation of GSH synthesis, and suggest that cysteine availability is not limiting for GSH synthesis in conditions of mitochondrial fragmentation. These findings provide a possible explanation for the heightened sensitivity of certain cell types to alterations in mitochondrial dynamics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118854DOI Listing
January 2021

Inhibition of DNMT1 and ERRα crosstalk suppresses breast cancer via derepression of IRF4.

Authors:
Mathieu Vernier Shawn McGuirk Catherine R Dufour Liangxinyi Wan Etienne Audet-Walsh Julie St-Pierre Vincent Giguère

Oncogene 2020 10 27;39(41):6406-6420. Epub 2020 Aug 27.

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, H3A 1A3, QC, Canada.

DNA methylation is implicated in the acquisition of malignant phenotypes, and the use of epigenetic modulating drugs is a promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategy. 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine (decitabine, 5-azadC) is an FDA-approved DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor with proven effectiveness against hematological malignancies and more recently triple-negative breast cancer (BC). Herein, genetic or pharmacological studies uncovered a hitherto unknown feedforward molecular link between DNMT1 and the estrogen related receptor α (ERRα), a key transcriptional regulator of cellular metabolism. Mechanistically, DNMT1 promotes ERRα stability which in turn couples DNMT1 transcription with that of the methionine cycle and S-adenosylmethionine synthesis to drive DNA methylation. In vitro and in vivo investigation using a pre-clinical mouse model of BC demonstrated a clear therapeutic advantage for combined administration of the ERRα inhibitor C29 with 5-azadC. A large-scale bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis revealed specific methylation perturbations fostering the discovery that reversal of promoter hypermethylation and consequently derepression of the tumor suppressor gene, IRF4, is a factor underlying the observed BC suppressive effects. This work thus uncovers a critical role of ERRα in the crosstalk between transcriptional control of metabolism and epigenetics and illustrates the potential for targeting ERRα in combination with DNMT inhibitors for BC treatment and other epigenetics-driven malignancies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-01438-1DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7544553PMC
October 2020

Incorporating Risk Stratification Into the Practice of Pediatric Preventive Cardiology.

Authors:
Michael Khoury Rae-Ellen W Kavey Julie St Pierre Brian W McCrindle

Can J Cardiol 2020 Sep 14;36(9):1417-1428. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Labatt Family Heart Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Atherosclerosis in its earliest stages is associated with the same traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as are associated with manifest CVD events in adulthood. Clustering of risk factors is associated with exponential increases in atherosclerotic burden from a young age. Some medical conditions and risk behaviours occurring in children can either increase the likelihood of higher levels of risk factors (such as chronic kidney disease) or the presence of risk factor clustering (such as obesity and cardiometabolic syndrome) or are associated with acquired coronary artery pathology (such as Kawasaki disease). This creates a milieu for-or increases the impact of-accelerated atherosclerosis that, in turn, increases the likelihood of premature CVD. This review highlights the importance of considering the total risk factor and risk-condition profile of pediatric patients. An algorithm is provided for stratifying patients into high-, moderate-, and at-risk categories, and practical examples are provided as to how the evaluation and management of 1 risk factor or risk condition might need to be intensified in the context of additional risk factors or risk conditions. For example, for treatment of an adolescent with familial hypercholesterolemia, the target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level might be lowered by the concomitant presence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or elevated lipoprotein(a) levels. As awareness of cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis in pediatric patients increases, new at-risk conditions that warrant consideration are emerging. The identification and management of high-risk individuals is an important part of the overall practice of pediatric preventive cardiology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2020.06.025DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7358764PMC
September 2020

Methotrexate elicits pro-respiratory and anti-growth effects by promoting AMPK signaling.

Authors:
David J Papadopoli Eric H Ma Dominic Roy Mariana Russo Gaëlle Bridon Daina Avizonis Russell G Jones Julie St-Pierre

Sci Rep 2020 05 12;10(1):7838. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.

One-carbon metabolism fuels the high demand of cancer cells for nucleotides and other building blocks needed for increased proliferation. Although inhibitors of this pathway are widely used to treat many cancers, their global impact on anabolic and catabolic processes remains unclear. Using a combination of real-time bioenergetics assays and metabolomics approaches, we investigated the global effects of methotrexate on cellular metabolism. We show that methotrexate treatment increases the intracellular concentration of the metabolite AICAR, resulting in AMPK activation. Methotrexate-induced AMPK activation leads to decreased one-carbon metabolism gene expression and cellular proliferation as well as increased global bioenergetic capacity. The anti-proliferative and pro-respiratory effects of methotrexate are AMPK-dependent, as cells with reduced AMPK activity are less affected by methotrexate treatment. Conversely, the combination of methotrexate with the AMPK activator, phenformin, potentiates its anti-proliferative activity in cancer cells. These data highlight a reciprocal effect of methotrexate on anabolic and catabolic processes and implicate AMPK activation as a metabolic determinant of methotrexate response.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64460-zDOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7217946PMC
May 2020

Estrogen-related receptors are targetable ROS sensors.

Authors:
Mathieu Vernier Catherine R Dufour Shawn McGuirk Charlotte Scholtes Xiaojing Li Guillaume Bourmeau Hellen Kuasne Morag Park Julie St-Pierre Etienne Audet-Walsh Vincent Giguère

Genes Dev 2020 04 20;34(7-8):544-559. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3A 1A3, Canada.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative stress and consequently cell injury contributing to a wide range of diseases. Addressing the critical gaps in our understanding of the adaptive molecular events downstream ROS provocation holds promise for the identification of druggable metabolic vulnerabilities. Here, we unveil a direct molecular link between the activity of two estrogen-related receptor (ERR) isoforms and the control of glutamine utilization and glutathione antioxidant production. ERRα down-regulation restricts glutamine entry into the TCA cycle, while ERRγ up-regulation promotes glutamine-driven glutathione production. Notably, we identify increased ERRγ expression/activation as a hallmark of oxidative stress triggered by mitochondrial disruption or chemotherapy. Enhanced tumor antioxidant capacity is an underlying feature of human breast cancer (BCa) patients that respond poorly to treatment. We demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of ERRγ with the selective inverse agonist GSK5182 increases antitumor efficacy of the chemotherapeutic paclitaxel on poor outcome BCa tumor organoids. Our findings thus underscore the ERRs as novel redox sensors and effectors of a ROS defense program and highlight the potential therapeutic advantage of exploiting ERRγ inhibitors for the treatment of BCa and other diseases where oxidative stress plays a central role.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/gad.330746.119DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7111261PMC
April 2020

Metabolic Fitness and Plasticity in Cancer Progression.

Authors:
Shawn McGuirk Yannick Audet-Delage Julie St-Pierre

Trends Cancer 2020 01 3;6(1):49-61. Epub 2020 Jan 3.

Department of Biochemistry, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada. Electronic address:

Cancer cells have enhanced metabolic needs due to their rapid proliferation. Moreover, throughout their progression from tumor precursors to metastases, cancer cells face challenging physiological conditions, including hypoxia, low nutrient availability, and exposure to therapeutic drugs. The ability of cancer cells to tailor their metabolic activities to support their energy demand and biosynthetic needs throughout disease progression is key for their survival. Here, we review the metabolic adaptations of cancer cells, from primary tumors to therapy resistant cancers, and the mechanisms underpinning their metabolic plasticity. We also discuss the metabolic coupling that can develop between tumors and the tumor microenvironment. Finally, we consider potential metabolic interventions that could be used in combination with standard therapeutic approaches to improve clinical outcome.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2019.11.009DOI Listing
January 2020

Pituitary cell translation and secretory capacities are enhanced cell autonomously by the transcription factor Creb3l2.

Authors:
Konstantin Khetchoumian Aurélio Balsalobre Alexandre Mayran Helen Christian Valérie Chénard Julie St-Pierre Jacques Drouin

Nat Commun 2019 09 3;10(1):3960. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, QC, H2W 1R7, Canada.

Translation is a basic cellular process and its capacity is adapted to cell function. In particular, secretory cells achieve high protein synthesis levels without triggering the protein stress response. It is unknown how and when translation capacity is increased during differentiation. Here, we show that the transcription factor Creb3l2 is a scaling factor for translation capacity in pituitary secretory cells and that it directly binds ~75% of regulatory and effector genes for translation. In parallel with this cell-autonomous mechanism, implementation of the physiological UPR pathway prevents triggering the protein stress response. Knockout mice for Tpit, a pituitary differentiation factor, show that Creb3l2 expression and its downstream regulatory network are dependent on Tpit. Further, Creb3l2 acts by direct targeting of translation effector genes in parallel with signaling pathways that otherwise regulate protein synthesis. Expression of Creb3l2 may be a useful means to enhance production of therapeutic proteins.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11894-3DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722061PMC
September 2019

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α regulates mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, sarcoplasmic reticulum stress, and cell death to mitigate skeletal muscle aging.

Authors:
Jonathan F Gill Julien Delezie Gesa Santos Shawn McGuirk Svenia Schnyder Stephan Frank Martin Rausch Julie St-Pierre Christoph Handschin

Aging Cell 2019 10 10;18(5):e12993. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Biozentrum, Division of Pharmacology/Neurobiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Age-related impairment of muscle function severely affects the health of an increasing elderly population. While causality and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, exercise is an efficient intervention to blunt these aging effects. We thus investigated the role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), a potent regulator of mitochondrial function and exercise adaptation, in skeletal muscle during aging. We demonstrate that PGC-1α overexpression improves mitochondrial dynamics and calcium buffering in an estrogen-related receptor α-dependent manner. Moreover, we show that sarcoplasmic reticulum stress is attenuated by PGC-1α. As a result, PGC-1α prevents tubular aggregate formation and cell death pathway activation in old muscle. Similarly, the pro-apoptotic effects of ceramide and thapsigargin were blunted by PGC-1α in muscle cells. Accordingly, mice with muscle-specific gain-of-function and loss-of-function of PGC-1α exhibit a delayed and premature aging phenotype, respectively. Together, our data reveal a key protective effect of PGC-1α on muscle function and overall health span in aging.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acel.12993DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6718523PMC
October 2019

Immature Low-Density Neutrophils Exhibit Metabolic Flexibility that Facilitates Breast Cancer Liver Metastasis.

Authors:
Brian E Hsu Sébastien Tabariès Radia M Johnson Sylvia Andrzejewski Julien Senecal Camille Lehuédé Matthew G Annis Eric H Ma Sandra Völs LeeAnn Ramsay Remi Froment Anie Monast Ian R Watson Zvi Granot Russell G Jones Julie St-Pierre Peter M Siegel

Cell Rep 2019 06;27(13):3902-3915.e6

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address:

Neutrophils are phenotypically heterogeneous and exert either anti- or pro-metastatic functions. We show that cancer-cell-derived G-CSF is necessary, but not sufficient, to mobilize immature low-density neutrophils (iLDNs) that promote liver metastasis. In contrast, mature high-density neutrophils inhibit the formation of liver metastases. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of high- and low-density neutrophils reveal engagement of numerous metabolic pathways specifically in low-density neutrophils. iLDNs exhibit enhanced global bioenergetic capacity, through their ability to engage mitochondrial-dependent ATP production, and remain capable of executing pro-metastatic neutrophil functions, including NETosis, under nutrient-deprived conditions. We demonstrate that NETosis is an important neutrophil function that promotes breast cancer liver metastasis. iLDNs rely on the catabolism of glutamate and proline to support mitochondrial-dependent metabolism in the absence of glucose, which enables sustained NETosis. These data reveal that distinct pro-metastatic neutrophil populations exhibit a high degree of metabolic flexibility, which facilitates the formation of liver metastases.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.091DOI Listing
June 2019

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in High-Risk Pediatric Patients: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Authors:
Sarah D de Ferranti Julia Steinberger Rebecca Ameduri Annette Baker Holly Gooding Aaron S Kelly Michele Mietus-Snyder Mark M Mitsnefes Amy L Peterson Julie St-Pierre Elaine M Urbina Justin P Zachariah Ali N Zaidi

Circulation 2019 03;139(13):e603-e634

This scientific statement presents considerations for clinical management regarding the assessment and risk reduction of select pediatric populations at high risk for premature cardiovascular disease, including acquired arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis. For each topic, the evidence for accelerated acquired coronary artery disease and stroke in childhood and adolescence and the evidence for benefit of interventions in youth will be reviewed. Children and adolescents may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease because of significant atherosclerotic or arteriosclerotic risk factors, high-risk conditions that promote atherosclerosis, or coronary artery or other cardiac or vascular abnormalities that make the individual more vulnerable to the adverse effects of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Existing scientific statements and guidelines will be referenced when applicable, and suggestions for risk identification and reduction specific to each setting will be described. This statement is directed toward pediatric cardiologists, primary care providers, and subspecialists who provide clinical care for these young patients. The focus will be on management and justification for management, minimizing information on pathophysiology and epidemiology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000618DOI Listing
March 2019

Canadian Cardiovascular Society Position Statement on Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Update 2018.

Authors:
Liam R Brunham Isabelle Ruel Sumayah Aljenedil Jean-Baptiste Rivière Alexis Baass Jack V Tu G B John Mancini Paolo Raggi Milan Gupta Patrick Couture Glen J Pearson Jean Bergeron Gordon A Francis Brian W McCrindle Katherine Morrison Julie St-Pierre Mélanie Henderson Robert A Hegele Jacques Genest Jeannette Goguen Daniel Gaudet Guillaume Paré Jacques Romney Thomas Ransom Sophie Bernard Pamela Katz Tisha R Joy David Bewick James Brophy

Can J Cardiol 2018 12;34(12):1553-1563

Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common monogenic disorder causing premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It affects 1 in 250 individuals worldwide, and of the approximately 145,000 Canadians estimated to have FH, most are undiagnosed. Herein, we provide an update of the 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society position statement on FH addressing the need for case identification, prompt recognition, and treatment with statins and ezetimibe, and cascade family screening. We provide a new Canadian definition for FH and tools for clinicians to make a diagnosis. The risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with "definite" FH is 10- to 20-fold that of a normolipidemic individual and initiating treatment in youth or young adulthood can normalize life expectancy. Target levels for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are proposed and are aligned with the Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines on dyslipidemia. Recommendation for the use of inhibitors of proprotein convertase kexin/subtilisin type 9 are made in patients who cannot achieve therapeutic low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets on maximally tolerated statins and ezetimibe. The writing committee used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology in the preparation of the present document, which offers guidance for practical evaluation and management of patients with FH. This position statement also aims to raise awareness of FH nationally, and to mobilize patient support, promote knowledge translation, and availability of treatment and health care resources for this under-recognized, but important medical condition.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2018.09.005DOI Listing
December 2018

Translational and HIF-1α-Dependent Metabolic Reprogramming Underpin Metabolic Plasticity and Responses to Kinase Inhibitors and Biguanides.

Authors:
Laura Hulea Simon-Pierre Gravel Masahiro Morita Marie Cargnello Oro Uchenunu Young Kyuen Im Camille Lehuédé Eric H Ma Matthew Leibovitch Shannon McLaughlan Marie-José Blouin Maxime Parisotto Vasilios Papavasiliou Cynthia Lavoie Ola Larsson Michael Ohh Tiago Ferreira Celia Greenwood Gaëlle Bridon Daina Avizonis Gerardo Ferbeyre Peter Siegel Russell G Jones William Muller Josie Ursini-Siegel Julie St-Pierre Michael Pollak Ivan Topisirovic

Cell Metab 2018 12 20;28(6):817-832.e8. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Lady Davis Institute, SMBD JGH, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada. Electronic address:

There is increasing interest in therapeutically exploiting metabolic differences between normal and cancer cells. We show that kinase inhibitors (KIs) and biguanides synergistically and selectively target a variety of cancer cells. Synthesis of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) aspartate, asparagine, and serine, as well as glutamine metabolism, are major determinants of the efficacy of KI/biguanide combinations. The mTORC1/4E-BP axis regulates aspartate, asparagine, and serine synthesis by modulating mRNA translation, while ablation of 4E-BP1/2 substantially decreases sensitivity of breast cancer and melanoma cells to KI/biguanide combinations. Efficacy of the KI/biguanide combinations is also determined by HIF-1α-dependent perturbations in glutamine metabolism, which were observed in VHL-deficient renal cancer cells. This suggests that cancer cells display metabolic plasticity by engaging non-redundant adaptive mechanisms, which allows them to survive therapeutic insults that target cancer metabolism.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.09.001DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7252493PMC
December 2018

A salicylic acid derivative extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by activating autophagy and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response.

Authors:
Mehrnaz Shamalnasab Simon-Pierre Gravel Julie St-Pierre Lionel Breton Sibylle Jäger Hugo Aguilaniu

Aging Cell 2018 Dec 7;17(6):e12830. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Instituto Serrapilheira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Plant extracts containing salicylates are probably the most ancient remedies to reduce fever and ease aches of all kind. Recently, it has been shown that salicylates activate adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK), which is now considered as a promising target to slow down aging and prevent age-related diseases in humans. Beneficial effects of AMPK activation on lifespan have been discovered in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Indeed, salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid extend lifespan in worms by activating AMPK and the forkhead transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO. Here, we investigated whether another salicylic acid derivative 5-octanoyl salicylic acid (C8-SA), developed as a controlled skin exfoliating ingredient, had similar properties using C. elegans as a model. We show that C8-SA increases lifespan of C. elegans and that a variety of pathways and genes are required for C8-SA-mediated lifespan extension. C8-SA activates AMPK and inhibits TOR both in nematodes and in primary human keratinocytes. We also show that C8-SA can induce both autophagy and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR ) in nematodes. This induction of both processes is fully required for lifespan extension in the worm. In addition, we found that the activation of autophagy by C8-SA fails to occur in worms with compromised UPR , suggesting a mechanistic link between these two processes. Mutants that are defective in the mitochondrial unfolded protein response exhibit constitutive high autophagy levels. Taken together, these data therefore suggest that C8-SA positively impacts longevity in worms through induction of autophagy and the UPR .
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acel.12830DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6260907PMC
December 2018

Metabolic Profiles Associated With Metformin Efficacy in Cancer.

Authors:
Sylvia Andrzejewski Peter M Siegel Julie St-Pierre

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 21;9:372. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Numerous reports have suggested potential anti-cancerous and cancer preventive properties of metformin, although these findings vary depending on the intrinsic properties of the tumor, as well as the systemic physiology of patients. These intriguing studies have led to a renewed interest in metformin use in the oncology setting, and fueled research to unveil its elusive mode of action. It is now appreciated that metformin inhibits complex I of the electron transport chain in mitochondria, causing bioenergetic stress in cancer cells, and rendering them dependent on glycolysis for ATP production. Understanding the mode of action of metformin and the consequences of its use on cancer cell bioenergetics permits the identification of cancer types most susceptible to metformin action. Such knowledge may also shed light on the varying results to metformin usage that have been observed in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss metabolic profiles of cancer cells that are associated with metformin sensitivity, and rationalize combinatorial treatment options. We use the concept of bioenergetic flexibility, which has recently emerged in the field of cancer cell metabolism, to further understand metabolic rearrangements that occur upon metformin treatment. Finally, we advance the notion that metabolic fitness of cancer cells increases during progression to metastatic disease and the emergence of therapeutic resistance. As a result, sophisticated combinatorial approaches that prevent metabolic compensatory mechanisms will be required to effectively manage metastatic disease.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00372DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6110930PMC
August 2018

Interplay between ShcA Signaling and PGC-1α Triggers Targetable Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Breast Cancer.

Authors:
Young Kyuen Im Ouafa Najyb Simon-Pierre Gravel Shawn McGuirk Ryuhjin Ahn Daina Z Avizonis Valérie Chénard Valerie Sabourin Jesse Hudson Tony Pawson Ivan Topisirovic Michael Pollak Julie St-Pierre Josie Ursini-Siegel

Cancer Res 2018 09 21;78(17):4826-4838. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The ShcA adaptor protein transduces oncogenic signals downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. We show here that breast tumors engage the ShcA pathway to increase their metabolism. ShcA signaling enhanced glucose catabolism through glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, rendering breast cancer cells critically dependent on glucose. ShcA signaling simultaneously increased the metabolic rate and flexibility of breast cancer cells by inducing the PGC-1α transcriptional coactivator, a central regulator of mitochondrial metabolism. Breast tumors that engaged ShcA signaling were critically dependent on PGC-1α to support their increased metabolic rate. PGC-1α deletion drastically delayed breast tumor onset in an orthotopic mouse model, highlighting a key role for PGC-1α in tumor initiation. Conversely, reduced ShcA signaling impaired both the metabolic rate and flexibility of breast cancer cells, rendering them reliant on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. This metabolic reprogramming exposed a targetable metabolic vulnerability, leading to a sensitization of breast tumors to inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I (biguanides). Genetic inhibition of ShcA signaling in the Polyoma virus middle T (MT) breast cancer mouse model sensitized mammary tumors to biguanides during the earliest stages of breast cancer progression. Tumor initiation and growth were selectively and severely impaired in MT/ShcA-deficient animals. These data demonstrate that metabolic reprogramming is a key component of ShcA signaling and serves an unappreciated yet vital role during breast cancer initiation and progression. These data further unravel a novel interplay between ShcA and PGC-1α in the coordination of metabolic reprogramming and demonstrate the sensitivity of breast tumors to drugs targeting oxidative phosphorylation. This study uncovers a previously unrecognized mechanism that links aberrant RTK signaling with metabolic perturbations in breast cancer and exposes metabolic vulnerabilities that can be targeted by inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation. .
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-3696DOI Listing
September 2018

Divergent Role of Estrogen-Related Receptor α in Lipid- and Fasting-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice.

Authors:
Wafa B'chir Catherine R Dufour Carlo Ouellet Ming Yan Ingrid S Tam Sylvia Andrzejewski Hui Xia Kylie Nabata Julie St-Pierre Vincent Giguère

Endocrinology 2018 05;159(5):2153-2164

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Given the increasing prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, identification of intrinsic molecular programs responsible for ensuring fuel homeostasis and preventing metabolic disease is needed. We investigated whether the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα), a major regulator of energy metabolism, plays a role in lipid homeostasis and the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in response to chronic high-fat diet (HFD) consumption and long-term fasting. Systemic ablation of ERRα in mice demonstrated clear beneficial effects for loss of ERRα function in protection from HFD-provoked body weight gain manifested not only from a reduction in white adipose tissue stores but also from an impediment in intrahepatic lipid accumulation. The prevention of HFD-induced NAFLD in ERRα-null mice was underscored by transcriptional repression of de novo lipogenesis, which was upregulated in wild-type mice, a known contributing factor to lipid-stimulated hepatic steatosis. Surprisingly, given these findings, ERRα deficiency had no significant impact on the degree of fasting-induced NAFLD, involving the mobilization of adipocyte triglyceride (TG) stores into the liver. However, the presence of ERRα was essential for acute refeeding-mediated reversal of fasting-induced hepatic TG accretion, underpinned by impaired downregulation of adipose TG lipolysis and reduced hepatic mitochondrial oxidative activity. Taken together, the regulation of lipid handling by ERRα depended on the nutritional state, suggesting that negative modulation of ERRα activity could be envisaged to prevent lipid-induced NAFLD, whereas inducing its activity would be useful to treat and reverse the instilled disease.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2018-00115DOI Listing
May 2018

The Essential Role of Primary Caregiver in Early Detection of Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Cardiovascular Prevention.

Authors:
Julie St-Pierre Isabelle Ruel Jacques Genest

Curr Pediatr Rev 2017 ;13(4):260-264

Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a worldwide common autosomal inherited condition associated with premature cardiovascular diseases, both in men and in women (World frequency has been recently estimated to be as high as 1:250). Identifying FH cases early in life could represent a cornerstone to prevent fatal events in adult's life. Pediatricians are well positioned to evaluate the familial cardiovascular risk factors among their young patients, to make a diagnosis and to perform familial screening. The goal of this paper is therefore to emphasize the recognition of this genetic condition at a younger age and to initiate both familial screening and a safe treatment. Prevention of cardiovascular disease starts at an early age in all children, but it may save lives in FH patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573396314666180221162556DOI Listing
April 2018

RSK Regulates PFK-2 Activity to Promote Metabolic Rewiring in Melanoma.

Authors:
Thibault Houles Simon-Pierre Gravel Geneviève Lavoie Sejeong Shin Mathilde Savall Antoine Méant Benoit Grondin Louis Gaboury Sang-Oh Yoon Julie St-Pierre Philippe P Roux

Cancer Res 2018 05 12;78(9):2191-2204. Epub 2018 Feb 12.

Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer that includes increased glucose uptake and accelerated aerobic glycolysis. This phenotype is required to fulfill anabolic demands associated with aberrant cell proliferation and is often mediated by oncogenic drivers such as activated BRAF. In this study, we show that the MAPK-activated p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) is necessary to maintain glycolytic metabolism in BRAF-mutated melanoma cells. RSK directly phosphorylated the regulatory domain of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 2 (PFKFB2), an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate during glycolysis. Inhibition of RSK reduced PFKFB2 activity and glycolytic flux in melanoma cells, suggesting an important role for RSK in BRAF-mediated metabolic rewiring. Consistent with this, expression of a phosphorylation-deficient mutant of PFKFB2 decreased aerobic glycolysis and reduced the growth of melanoma in mice. Together, these results indicate that RSK-mediated phosphorylation of PFKFB2 plays a key role in the metabolism and growth of BRAF-mutated melanomas. RSK promotes glycolytic metabolism and the growth of BRAF-mutated melanoma by driving phosphorylation of an important glycolytic enzyme. .
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-2215DOI Listing
May 2018

PGC-1α Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis and Confers Bioenergetic Flexibility against Metabolic Drugs.

Authors:
Sylvia Andrzejewski Eva Klimcakova Radia M Johnson Sébastien Tabariès Matthew G Annis Shawn McGuirk Jason J Northey Valérie Chénard Urshila Sriram David J Papadopoli Peter M Siegel Julie St-Pierre

Cell Metab 2017 Nov 5;26(5):778-787.e5. Epub 2017 Oct 5.

Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address:

Metabolic adaptations play a key role in fueling tumor growth. However, less is known regarding the metabolic changes that promote cancer progression to metastatic disease. Herein, we reveal that breast cancer cells that preferentially metastasize to the lung or bone display relatively high expression of PGC-1α compared with those that metastasize to the liver. PGC-1α promotes breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and augments lung metastasis in vivo. Pro-metastatic capabilities of PGC-1α are linked to enhanced global bioenergetic capacity, facilitating the ability to cope with bioenergetic disruptors like biguanides. Indeed, biguanides fail to mitigate the PGC-1α-dependent lung metastatic phenotype and PGC-1α confers resistance to stepwise increases in metformin concentration. Overall, our results reveal that PGC-1α stimulates bioenergetic potential, which promotes breast cancer metastasis and facilitates adaptation to metabolic drugs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2017.09.006DOI Listing
November 2017

AMPK Maintains Cellular Metabolic Homeostasis through Regulation of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species.

Authors:
Rebecca C Rabinovitch Bozena Samborska Brandon Faubert Eric H Ma Simon-Pierre Gravel Sylvia Andrzejewski Thomas C Raissi Arnim Pause Julie St-Pierre Russell G Jones

Cell Rep 2017 Oct;21(1):1-9

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address:

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are continuously produced as a by-product of mitochondrial metabolism and eliminated via antioxidant systems. Regulation of mitochondrially produced ROS is required for proper cellular function, adaptation to metabolic stress, and bypassing cellular senescence. Here, we report non-canonical regulation of the cellular energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by mitochondrial ROS (mROS) that functions to maintain cellular metabolic homeostasis. We demonstrate that mitochondrial ROS are a physiological activator of AMPK and that AMPK activation triggers a PGC-1α-dependent antioxidant response that limits mitochondrial ROS production. Cells lacking AMPK activity display increased mitochondrial ROS levels and undergo premature senescence. Finally, we show that AMPK-PGC-1α-dependent control of mitochondrial ROS regulates HIF-1α stabilization and that mitochondrial ROS promote the Warburg effect in cells lacking AMPK signaling. These data highlight a key function for AMPK in sensing and resolving mitochondrial ROS for stress resistance and maintaining cellular metabolic balance.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.026DOI Listing
October 2017

mTOR Controls Mitochondrial Dynamics and Cell Survival via MTFP1.

Authors:
Masahiro Morita Julien Prudent Kaustuv Basu Vanessa Goyon Sakie Katsumura Laura Hulea Dana Pearl Nadeem Siddiqui Stefan Strack Shawn McGuirk Julie St-Pierre Ola Larsson Ivan Topisirovic Hojatollah Vali Heidi M McBride John J Bergeron Nahum Sonenberg

Mol Cell 2017 Sep 14;67(6):922-935.e5. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A1A3, Canada. Electronic address:

The mechanisms that link environmental and intracellular stimuli to mitochondrial functions, including fission/fusion, ATP production, metabolite biogenesis, and apoptosis, are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that the nutrient-sensing mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) stimulates translation of mitochondrial fission process 1 (MTFP1) to control mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. Expression of MTFP1 is coupled to pro-fission phosphorylation and mitochondrial recruitment of the fission GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1). Potent active-site mTOR inhibitors engender mitochondrial hyperfusion due to the diminished translation of MTFP1, which is mediated by translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding proteins (4E-BPs). Uncoupling MTFP1 levels from the mTORC1/4E-BP pathway upon mTOR inhibition blocks the hyperfusion response and leads to apoptosis by converting mTOR inhibitor action from cytostatic to cytotoxic. These data provide direct evidence for cell survival upon mTOR inhibition through mitochondrial hyperfusion employing MTFP1 as a critical effector of mTORC1 to govern cell fate decisions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2017.08.013DOI Listing
September 2017

PRL2 links magnesium flux and sex-dependent circadian metabolic rhythms.

Authors:
Noriko Uetani Serge Hardy Simon-Pierre Gravel Silke Kiessling Adam Pietrobon Nau Nau Wong Valérie Chénard Nicolas Cermakian Julie St-Pierre Michel L Tremblay

JCI Insight 2017 Jul 6;2(13). Epub 2017 Jul 6.

Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre.

Magnesium (Mg2+) plays pleiotropic roles in cellular biology, and it is essentially required for all living organisms. Although previous studies demonstrated intracellular Mg2+ levels were regulated by the complex of phosphatase of regenerating liver 2 (PRL2) and Mg2+ transporter of cyclin M (CNNMs), physiological functions of PRL2 in whole animals remain unclear. Interestingly, Mg2+ was recently identified as a regulator of circadian rhythm-dependent metabolism; however, no mechanism was found to explain the clock-dependent Mg2+ oscillation. Herein, we report PRL2 as a missing link between sex and metabolism, as well as clock genes and daily cycles of Mg2+ fluxes. Our results unveil that PRL2-null animals displayed sex-dependent alterations in body composition, and expression of PRLs and CNNMs were sex- and circadian time-dependently regulated in brown adipose tissues. Consistently, PRL2-KO mice showed sex-dependent alterations in thermogenesis and in circadian energy metabolism. These physiological changes were associated with an increased rate of uncoupled respiration with lower intracellular Mg2+ in PRL2-KO cells. Moreover, PRL2 deficiency causes inhibition of the ATP citrate lyase axis, which is involved in fatty acid synthesis. Overall, our findings support that sex- and circadian-dependent PRL2 expression alter intracellular Mg2+ levels, which accordingly controls energy metabolism status.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.91722DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5499375PMC
July 2017

Androgen-Dependent Repression of ERRγ Reprograms Metabolism in Prostate Cancer.

Authors:
Étienne Audet-Walsh Tracey Yee Shawn McGuirk Mathieu Vernier Carlo Ouellet Julie St-Pierre Vincent Giguère

Cancer Res 2017 01 7;77(2):378-389. Epub 2016 Nov 7.

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

How androgen signaling contributes to the oncometabolic state of prostate cancer remains unclear. Here, we show how the estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) negatively controls mitochondrial respiration in prostate cancer cells. Sustained treatment of prostate cancer cells with androgens increased the activity of several metabolic pathways, including aerobic glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, and lipid synthesis. An analysis of the intersection of gene expression, binding events, and motif analyses after androgen exposure identified a metabolic gene expression signature associated with the action of ERRγ. This metabolic state paralleled the loss of ERRγ expression. It occurred in both androgen-dependent and castration-resistant prostate cancer and was associated with cell proliferation. Clinically, we observed an inverse relationship between ERRγ expression and disease severity. These results illuminate a mechanism in which androgen-dependent repression of ERRγ reprograms prostate cancer cell metabolism to favor mitochondrial activity and cell proliferation. Furthermore, they rationalize strategies to reactivate ERRγ signaling as a generalized therapeutic approach to manage prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 77(2); 378-89. ©2016 AACR.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-1204DOI Listing
January 2017

Metabolomics Analyses of Cancer Cells in Controlled Microenvironments.

Authors:
Simon-Pierre Gravel Daina Avizonis Julie St-Pierre

Methods Mol Biol 2016 ;1458:273-90

Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3G 1Y6.

The tumor microenvironment is a complex and heterogeneous milieu in which cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to fuel their growth. Cancer cell lines grown in vitro using traditional culture methods represent key experimental models to gain a mechanistic understanding of tumor biology. This protocol describes the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess metabolic changes in cancer cells grown under varied levels of oxygen and nutrients that may better mimic the tumor microenvironment. Intracellular metabolite changes, metabolite uptake and release, as well as stable isotope ((13)C) tracer analyses are done in a single experimental setup to provide an integrated understanding of metabolic adaptation. Overall, this chapter describes some essential tools and methods to perform comprehensive metabolomics analyses.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3801-8_20DOI Listing
January 2018

ERRα mediates metabolic adaptations driving lapatinib resistance in breast cancer.

Authors:
Geneviève Deblois Harvey W Smith Ingrid S Tam Simon-Pierre Gravel Maxime Caron Paul Savage David P Labbé Louis R Bégin Michel L Tremblay Morag Park Guillaume Bourque Julie St-Pierre William J Muller Vincent Giguère

Nat Commun 2016 07 12;7:12156. Epub 2016 Jul 12.

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 1A3.

Despite the initial benefits of treating HER2-amplified breast cancer patients with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib, resistance inevitably develops. Here we report that lapatinib induces the degradation of the nuclear receptor ERRα, a master regulator of cellular metabolism, and that the expression of ERRα is restored in lapatinib-resistant breast cancer cells through reactivation of mTOR signalling. Re-expression of ERRα in resistant cells triggers metabolic adaptations favouring mitochondrial energy metabolism through increased glutamine metabolism, as well as ROS detoxification required for cell survival under therapeutic stress conditions. An ERRα inverse agonist counteracts these metabolic adaptations and overcomes lapatinib resistance in a HER2-induced mammary tumour mouse model. This work reveals a molecular mechanism by which ERRα-induced metabolic reprogramming promotes survival of lapatinib-resistant cancer cells and demonstrates the potential of ERRα inhibition as an effective adjuvant therapy in poor outcome HER2-positive breast cancer.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12156DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4945959PMC
July 2016

Nucleus to Mitochondria: Lost in Transcription, Found in Translation.

Authors:
Julie St-Pierre Ivan Topisirovic

Dev Cell 2016 06;37(6):490-2

Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Lady Davis Institute, SMBD JGH, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada. Electronic address:

Mitochondrial genes reside in the nucleus and mitochondria. In a recent paper in Nature, Couvillion et al. (2016) describe their development of a "mitoribosome profiling" approach and demonstrate that changes in expression of nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded genes are coordinated at the level of translation during metabolic adaptation to fuel source changes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2016.06.003DOI Listing
June 2016

Chronic AMPK activation via loss of FLCN induces functional beige adipose tissue through PGC-1α/ERRα.

Authors:
Ming Yan Étienne Audet-Walsh Sanaz Manteghi Catherine Rosa Dufour Benjamin Walker Masaya Baba Julie St-Pierre Vincent Giguère Arnim Pause

Genes Dev 2016 05;30(9):1034-46

Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada;

The tumor suppressor folliculin (FLCN) forms a repressor complex with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Given that AMPK is a master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, we generated an adipose-specific Flcn (Adipoq-FLCN) knockout mouse model to investigate the role of FLCN in energy metabolism. We show that loss of FLCN results in a complete metabolic reprogramming of adipose tissues, resulting in enhanced oxidative metabolism. Adipoq-FLCN knockout mice exhibit increased energy expenditure and are protected from high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Importantly, FLCN ablation leads to chronic hyperactivation of AMPK, which in turns induces and activates two key transcriptional regulators of cellular metabolism, proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα). Together, the AMPK/PGC-1α/ERRα molecular axis positively modulates the expression of metabolic genes to promote mitochondrial biogenesis and activity. In addition, mitochondrial uncoupling proteins as well as other markers of brown fat are up-regulated in both white and brown FLCN-null adipose tissues, underlying the increased resistance of Adipoq-FLCN knockout mice to cold exposure. These findings identify a key role of FLCN as a negative regulator of mitochondrial function and identify a novel molecular pathway involved in the browning of white adipocytes and the activity of brown fat.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/gad.281410.116DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4863735PMC
May 2016

nanoCAGE reveals 5' UTR features that define specific modes of translation of functionally related MTOR-sensitive mRNAs.

Authors:
Valentina Gandin Laia Masvidal Laura Hulea Simon-Pierre Gravel Marie Cargnello Shannon McLaughlan Yutian Cai Preetika Balanathan Masahiro Morita Arjuna Rajakumar Luc Furic Michael Pollak John A Porco Julie St-Pierre Jerry Pelletier Ola Larsson Ivan Topisirovic

Genome Res 2016 05 16;26(5):636-48. Epub 2016 Mar 16.

Lady Davis Institute, SMBD Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada H3T 1E2; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3G 1Y6; Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3G 1Y6; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3G 1Y6;

The diversity of MTOR-regulated mRNA translation remains unresolved. Whereas ribosome-profiling suggested that MTOR almost exclusively stimulates translation of the TOP (terminal oligopyrimidine motif) and TOP-like mRNAs, polysome-profiling indicated that MTOR also modulates translation of mRNAs without the 5' TOP motif (non-TOP mRNAs). We demonstrate that in ribosome-profiling studies, detection of MTOR-dependent changes in non-TOP mRNA translation was obscured by low sensitivity and methodology biases. Transcription start site profiling using nano-cap analysis of gene expression (nanoCAGE) revealed that not only do many MTOR-sensitive mRNAs lack the 5' TOP motif but that 5' UTR features distinguish two functionally and translationally distinct subsets of MTOR-sensitive mRNAs: (1) mRNAs with short 5' UTRs enriched for mitochondrial functions, which require EIF4E but are less EIF4A1-sensitive; and (2) long 5' UTR mRNAs encoding proliferation- and survival-promoting proteins, which are both EIF4E- and EIF4A1-sensitive. Selective inhibition of translation of mRNAs harboring long 5' UTRs via EIF4A1 suppression leads to sustained expression of proteins involved in respiration but concomitant loss of those protecting mitochondrial structural integrity, resulting in apoptosis. Conversely, simultaneous suppression of translation of both long and short 5' UTR mRNAs by MTOR inhibitors results in metabolic dormancy and a predominantly cytostatic effect. Thus, 5' UTR features define different modes of MTOR-sensitive translation of functionally distinct subsets of mRNAs, which may explain the diverse impact of MTOR and EIF4A inhibitors on neoplastic cells.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/gr.197566.115DOI Listing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4864462PMC
May 2016