1. Academic Validation
  2. SMURF2 predisposes cancer cell toward ferroptosis in GPX4-independent manners by promoting GSTP1 degradation

SMURF2 predisposes cancer cell toward ferroptosis in GPX4-independent manners by promoting GSTP1 degradation

  • Mol Cell. 2023 Nov 16:S1097-2765(23)00913-9. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.042.
Wenxin Zhang 1 Junren Dai 2 Guixue Hou 3 Hao Liu 2 Shanliang Zheng 2 Xingwen Wang 2 Qingyu Lin 2 Yi Zhang 2 Minqiao Lu 2 Yafan Gong 2 Zhiyuan Xiang 2 Yan Yu 4 Ying Hu 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China; Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, HIT Zhengzhou Research Institute, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
  • 2 School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China.
  • 3 BGI-SHENZHEN, Shenzhen 518083, China.
  • 4 Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150081, China.
  • 5 School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China; Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, HIT Zhengzhou Research Institute, Zhengzhou 450000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death. Glutathione (GSH) peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and GSH-independent Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) have been identified as major defenses. Here, we uncover a protective mechanism mediated by GSH S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) by monitoring proteinomic dynamics during Ferroptosis. Dramatic downregulation of GSTP1 is caused by SMURF2-mediated GSTP1 ubiquitination and degradation at early stages of Ferroptosis. Intriguingly, GSTP1 acts in GPX4- and FSP1-independent manners by catalyzing GSH conjugation of 4-hydroxynonenal and detoxifying lipid hydroperoxides via selenium-independent GSH peroxidase activity. Genetic modulation of the SMURF2/GSTP1 axis or the pharmacological inhibition of GSTP1's catalytic activity sensitized tumor responses to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ferroptosis-inducing drugs both in vitro and in vivo. GSTP1 expression also confers resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors by blunting Ferroptosis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a GPX4/FSP1-independent cellular defense mechanism against Ferroptosis and suggest that targeting SMURF2/GSTP1 to sensitize Cancer cells to Ferroptosis has potential as an Anticancer therapy.

Keywords

GSH conjugation; GSTP1; SMURF2; ferroptosis; selenium-independent GSH peroxidase.

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