Suppression of nuclear GSK3 signaling promotes serine/one-carbon metabolism and confers metabolic vulnerability in lung cancer cells

Sci Adv. 2022 May 20;8(20):eabm8786. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abm8786. Epub 2022 May 20.

Abstract

Serine/one-carbon metabolism provides critical resources for nucleotide biosynthesis and epigenetic maintenance and is thus necessary in cancer cell growth, although the detailed regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. We uncover a critical role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in regulating the expression of serine/one-carbon metabolic enzymes. Nuclear enrichment of GSK3 significantly suppresses genes that mediate de novo serine synthesis, including PHGDH, PSAT1, PSPH, and one-carbon metabolism, including SHMT2 and MTHFD2. FRAT1 promotes nuclear exclusion of GSK3, enhances serine/one-carbon metabolism, and, as a result, confers cell vulnerability to inhibitors that target this metabolic process such as SHIN1, a specific SHMT1/2 inhibitor. Furthermore, pharmacological or genetic suppression of GSK3 promotes serine/one-carbon metabolism and exhibits a significant synergistic effect in combination with SHIN1 in suppressing cancer cell proliferation in cultured cells and in vivo. Our observations indicate that inhibition of nuclear GSK3 signaling creates a vulnerability, which results in enhanced efficacy of serine/one-carbon metabolism inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Carbon / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Serine*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • FRAT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Serine
  • Carbon
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3