TSP50 promotes hepatocyte proliferation and tumour formation by activating glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)

Background & aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumour with high morbidity and mortality. Metabolic regulation by oncogenes is necessary for tumour growth. Testes-specific protease 50 (TSP50) has been found to promote cell proliferation in multiple tumour types. However, the mechanism that TSP50 promotes HCC progression are not known.

Methods: Hepatocyte proliferation was analysed by MTT and BrdU incorporation after TSP50 transfection. Furthermore, LC-MS/MS, co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays were performed to analyse protein(s) binding to TSP50. Moreover, the site-specific mutation of G6PD was used to reveal the key site critical for G6PD acetylation mediated by TSP50. Finally, the role of G6PD K171 acetylation regulated by TSP50 in cell proliferation and tumour formation was investigated.

Results: Our data suggest that the overexpression of TSP50 accelerates hepatocyte proliferation. In addition, G6PD is an important protein that binds to TSP50 in the cytoplasm. TSP50 activates G6PD activity by inhibiting the acetylation of G6PD at the K171 site. In addition, TSP50 promotes the binding of G6PD to SIRT2. Furthermore, the K171ac of G6PD regulated by TSP50 is required for TSP50-induced cell proliferation in vitro and tumour formation in vivo. Additionally, according to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) programme, TSP50 and G6PD are negatively correlated with the survival of HCC patients.

Conclusions: Collectively, our findings demonstrate that TSP50-induced cell proliferation and tumour formation are mediated by G6PD K171 acetylation.