1. Academic Validation
  2. Palmitic acid negatively regulates tumor suppressor PTEN through T366 phosphorylation and protein degradation

Palmitic acid negatively regulates tumor suppressor PTEN through T366 phosphorylation and protein degradation

  • Cancer Lett. 2021 Jan 1;496:127-133. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.007.
Dongmei Bai 1 Yong Wu 1 Poonamjot Deol 2 Yumiko Nobumori 1 Qi Zhou 1 Frances M Sladek 2 Xuan Liu 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
  • 2 Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
  • 3 Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

Chronic elevated free fatty (FFA) levels are linked to metabolic disorders and tumorigenesis. However, the molecular mechanism by which FFAs induce Cancer remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the tumor suppressor PTEN protein levels were decreased in high fat diet (HFD) fed mice. As palmitic acid (PA, C16:0) showed a significant increase in the HFD fed mice, we further investigated its role in PTEN down regulation. Our studies revealed that exposure of cells to high doses of PA induced mTOR/S6K-mediated phosphorylation of PTEN at T366. The phosphorylation subsequently enhanced the interaction of PTEN with the E3 ubiquitin ligase WW domain-containing protein 2 (WWP2), which promoted polyubiquitination of PTEN and protein degradation. Consistent with PTEN degradation, exposure of cells to increased concentrations of PA also promoted PTEN-mediated Akt activation and cell proliferation. Significantly, a higher level of S6K activation, PTEN T366 phosphorylation, and Akt activation were also observed in the livers of the HFD fed mice. These results provide a molecular mechanism by which a HFD and elevated PA regulate cell proliferation through inactivation of tumor suppressor PTEN.

Keywords

PTEN; Palmitic acid; S6K; T366 phosphorylation; mTOR.

Figures
Products