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CANCER METABOLISM

Nuclear PHGDH protects cancer cells from nutrient stress

Nature Metabolism volume 3, pages 1284–1285 (2021)Cite this article

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In this study, the serine biosynthetic enzyme PHGDH is shown to transition from the cytosol to the nucleus following nutrient stress. Nuclear PHGDH reduces local NAD+ availability needed for the PARylation of the transcription factor c-Jun. Consequently, c-Jun activity is reduced, contributing to sustained cancer cell proliferation.

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Fig. 1: Glucose deficiency induces alternative PHGDH activities in the nucleus.

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Acknowledgements

S.-M.F. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council under the ERC Consolidator Grant Agreement no. 771486–MetaRegulation, FWO Projects (G098120N, G088318N), Fonds Baillet Latour, KU Leuven-FTBO and the King Baudouin Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecological Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium

    Daniela Annibali

  2. Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Daniela Annibali

  3. Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium

    Sarah-Maria Fendt

  4. Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium

    Sarah-Maria Fendt

Authors
  1. Daniela Annibali
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  2. Sarah-Maria Fendt
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Correspondence to Sarah-Maria Fendt.

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Competing interests

S.-M.F. has received funding from Bayer, Merck and BlackBelt Therapeutic and has consulted for Fund+. D.A. declares no competing interests.

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Annibali, D., Fendt, SM. Nuclear PHGDH protects cancer cells from nutrient stress. Nat Metab 3, 1284–1285 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-021-00448-x

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