Glioma-derived mutations in IDH1 dominantly inhibit IDH1 catalytic activity and induce HIF-1alpha

Science. 2009 Apr 10;324(5924):261-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1170944.

Abstract

Heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) occur in certain human brain tumors, but their mechanistic role in tumor development is unknown. We have shown that tumor-derived IDH1 mutations impair the enzyme's affinity for its substrate and dominantly inhibit wild-type IDH1 activity through the formation of catalytically inactive heterodimers. Forced expression of mutant IDH1 in cultured cells reduces formation of the enzyme product, alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG), and increases the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor subunit HIF-1alpha, a transcription factor that facilitates tumor growth when oxygen is low and whose stability is regulated by alpha-KG. The rise in HIF-1alpha levels was reversible by an alpha-KG derivative. HIF-1alpha levels were higher in human gliomas harboring an IDH1 mutation than in tumors without a mutation. Thus, IDH1 appears to function as a tumor suppressor that, when mutationally inactivated, contributes to tumorigenesis in part through induction of the HIF-1 pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Astrocytoma / genetics
  • Astrocytoma / metabolism
  • Biocatalysis
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / chemistry
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Ketoglutaric Acids / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutant Proteins / chemistry
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Oligodendroglioma / genetics
  • Oligodendroglioma / metabolism
  • Oxalates / pharmacology
  • Protein Multimerization

Substances

  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Ketoglutaric Acids
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Oxalates
  • oxalomalic acid
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase