Targeting BCAT1 Combined with a-Ketoglutarate Triggers Metabolic Synthetic Lethality in Glioblastoma

Bo Zhang, Hui Peng, Mi Zhou, Lei Bao, Chenliang Wang, Feng Cai, Hongxia Zhang, Jennifer E. Wang, Yanling Niu, Yan Chen, Yijie Wang, Kimmo J. Hatanpaa, John A. Copland, Ralph J. DeBerardinis, Yingfei Wang, Weibo Luo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) is upregulated selectively in human isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wildtype (WT) but not mutant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and promotes IDHWT GBM growth. Through a metabolic synthetic lethal screen, we report here that a-ketoglutarate (AKG) kills IDHWT GBM cells when BCAT1 protein is lost, which is reversed by reexpression of BCAT1 or supplementation with branched-chain a-ketoacids (BCKA), downstream metabolic products of BCAT1. In patient-derived IDHWT GBM tumors in vitro and in vivo, cotreatment of BCAT1 inhibitor gabapentin and AKG resulted in synthetic lethality. However, AKG failed to evoke a synthetic lethal effect with loss of BCAT2, BCKDHA, or GPT2 in IDHWT GBM cells. Mechanistically, loss of BCAT1 increased the NADþ/NADH ratio but impaired oxidative phosphorylation, mTORC1 activity, and nucleotide biosynthesis. These metabolic alterations were synergistically augmented by AKG treatment, thereby causing mitochondrial dysfunction and depletion of cellular building blocks, including ATP, nucleotides, and proteins. Partial restoration of ATP, nucleotides, proteins, and mTORC1 activity by BCKA supplementation prevented IDHWT GBM cell death conferred by the combination of BCAT1 loss and AKG. These findings define a targetable metabolic vulnerability in the most common subset of GBM that is currently incurable. Significance: Metabolic synthetic lethal screening in IDHWT glioblastoma defines a vulnerability to AKG following BCAT1 loss, uncovering a therapeutic strategy to improve glioblastoma treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2388-2402
Number of pages15
JournalCancer research
Volume82
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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